Apparatus and method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material are provided, the apparatus comprising a pair of electrodes having portions thereof disposed adjacent each other and defining an inlet to the adjacent portions and an outlet from the adjacent portions, structure for feeding the liquid bearing material into the inlet, structure for moving the liquid bearing material from the inlet to the outlet so that sections of the material serially move from the inlet to the outlet while being disposed between the adjacent portions, and a unit for creating a voltage arrangement between the pair of electrodes so as to create an electrostatic field arrangement between the adjacent portions of the pair of electrodes for acting through the material that is disposed therebetween to remove liquid from that material, the unit providing different voltages between different parts of the pair of electrodes so that different intensities of the electrostatic field arrangement serially act through each section of the material as each section of material moves from the inlet to the outlet.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-in-Part patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 386,579, filed July 27, 1989, now abandoned, which, in turn, is a Continuation-in-Part patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 284,197, filed Dec. 14, 1988, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,877,503, which, in turn, is a Continuation-in-Part patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 213,709, filed June 30, 1988, now abandoned, which, in turn, is a Continuation-in-part patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 189,974, filed May 4, 1988, now abandoned, which, in turn, is a Continuation-in-Part patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 062,201, filed June 15, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,780,188, which, in turn, is a Continuation-in-Part patent application of its copending parent patent application, Ser. No. 032,746, filed Mar. 31, 1987, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,767,514.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a new apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and to a new method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material.

2. Prior Art Statement

It is known to provide an apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and comprising a pair of electrode means having portions thereof disposed adjacent each other and defining an inlet means to the adjacent portions and an outlet means from the adjacent portions, means for feeding the liquid bearing material into the inlet means, means for moving the liquid bearing material from the inlet means to the outlet means so that sections of the material serially move from the inlet means to the outlet means while being disposed between the adjacent portions, and means for creating a voltage means between the pair of electrode means so as to create an electrostatic field means between the adjacent portions of the pair of electrode means for acting through the material that is disposed therebetween to remove liquid from that material. For example, see the Candor U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,682; the Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317; the Stiles U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,847; the Thomas U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,756, and the Muralidhara et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,964.

It is also known to step the voltage acting through a liquid bearing material in a batch process where the liquid bearing material is stationary between a pair of electrode means. For example, see the article entitled "Electroosmotic Dewatering of Clays, I. Influence of Voltage" by N. C. Lockhart, published in 1983 in Colloids and Surfaces, Vol. 6, pages 229-238.

It is also known to provide an apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and comprising a pair of spaced electrodes for being disposed on opposite sides of the material, means for creating an electrostatic field between the electrodes for acting through the material to remove liquid from the material, and a projection extending from one of the electrodes to assist in removing liquid from the liquid bearing material, the electrodes comprising a pair of movable endless belts having adjacent runs thereof adapted to move in the same direction with the material therebetween so as to move in the same direction therewith. For example, see the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317.

It is also known to have the projection of an arrangement project through an opening means passing through one of the electrodes. For example, see the King U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,617.

While the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317, also describes that the projection and the electrodes can be sonically or ultrasonically vibrated while the projection is projecting into and/or through the liquid bearing material that is disposed between the electrodes for further enhancing the electrostatic action in removing liquid from the liquid bearing material, also see the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,682; the Muralidhara et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,953, the Muralidhara et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,920, the aforementioned Muralidhara et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,964 and Chapter 14, pages 335-374, of the book Advances in Solid-Liquid Separation edited by H. S. Muralidhara for other examples of apparatus that utilize sonic or ultrasonic vibrations in combination with an electrostatic field to remove liquid from liquid bearing material.

It is also known that liquid in capillaries or porous material tends to physically move in the direction of increasing field inhomogeneity to the capillary or pore mouth when an inhomogeneous electrostatic or electric field or nonuniform electrostatic or electric field is directed across that capillary or porous body. For example, see the article "Effect of a Corona Discharge Field On Evaporation of Liquids From Capillaries" by Karpovich et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1981, 41, 1333. In addition, see the article "Study of Electric Field-Induced Effects on Water Vapor Adsorption in Porous Adsorbents" by Someshwar et al, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam., 1985, 24, 215-220; the article "Effect of an Electric Field on the Kinetics of Water Sorption by a Capillary-Porous Material" by Panchenko et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1972, 22, 554, and the article "Influence of Inhomogeneous Electric and Magnetic Fields on Internal Mass Transfer In Capillary-Porous Bodies" by Panasyuk et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1978, 35, 827.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One feature of this invention is to provide a new apparatus and method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material by increasing the voltage between adjacent portions of the electrodes in a unique manner to assist in removing liquid from the liquid bearing material.

In particular, it is believed according to the teachings of this invention that as the liquid in liquid bearing material is being removed by the action of an electrostatic field that passes through the material, the amount of liquid remaining in the material requires a higher voltage between the electrodes that create the electrostatic field therebetween to further remove the same because the capillary holding force on the remaining liquid is harder to overcome at a lesser voltage that is sufficient to remove the liquid when the material is initially being dewatered. For example, see the aforementioned article "Electroosmotic Dewatering of Clays, I. Inference of Voltage." by N. C. Lockhart, Colloids and Surfaces, Vol. 6, pages 229-238, whereby this article is being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto.

Therefore, it is further believed according to the teachings of this invention that unique means can be provided to permit such varying voltage to be utilized with an apparatus that has means for moving the liquid bearing material from an inlet means to an outlet means of the apparatus that are respectively defined by adjacent portions of the pair of electrode means of the apparatus.

For example, one embodiment of this invention provides an apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and comprising a pair of electrode means having portions thereof disposed adjacent each other and defining an inlet means to the adjacent portions and an outlet means from the adjacent portions, means for feeding the liquid bearing material into the inlet means, means for moving the liquid bearing material from the inlet means to the outlet means so that sections of the material serially move from the inlet means to the outlet means while being disposed between the adjacent portions, and means for creating a voltage means between the pair of electrode means so as to create an electrostatic field means between the adjacent portions of the pair of electrode means for acting through the material that is disposed therebetween to remove liquid from that material, the apparatus having means for providing different voltages between parts of the pair of electrode means so that different intensities of the electrostatic field means serially act through each section of the material as each section of material moves from the inlet means to the outlet means.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material, the method of this invention having one or more of the novel features of this invention as set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view that schematically illustrates the apparatus and method of this invention for removing liquid from liquid bearing material.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 1 in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 2A is a fragmentary view of FIG. 2 and illustrates in an exaggerated manner how the vibration of the projection in the material might form a cavity in the resulting cake around the vibrating projection.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 3 in another operating position thereof

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the apparatus thereof in still another operating position thereof.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 6 in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 and illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 8 in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIG. 10 and illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 10 in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 12 and illustrates the apparatus of FIG. 12 in another operating position thereof.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another method and apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another method and apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 17--17 of FIG. 16 to illustrate the field lines of the nonuniform field being created by a particular projection of the method and apparatus of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on line 18--18 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 is a view similar to FIG. 18 and illustrates another embodiment of the method and apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 20 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another method and apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 21 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another method and apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 22 is a view similar to FIG. 21 and illustrates the projection of one of the electrodes in an extended position thereof.

FIG. 23 is a schematic side view similar to FIG. 1 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 24 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the apparatus and method illustrated in FIG. 23 and is taken in the general area of the lines 24--24 thereof.

FIG. 25 is a view similar to FIG. 24 and is taken in the general area of the lines 25--25 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is a view similar to FIG. 24 and is taken in the general area of the lines 26--26 of FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 23 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 28 is an enlarged fragmentary view similar to FIG. 23 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged fragmentary view of part of the structure of FIG. 28 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

FIG. 30 is a reduced fragmentary view similar to FIG. 28 and illustrates another apparatus and method of this invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adapted to provide an apparatus and method for dewatering certain types of liquid bearing material, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in various combinations thereof to remove liquid from other types of liquid bearing material or to merely reduce the liquid content of a liquid bearing material with the resulting dewatered product still being considered as being relatively liquid.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate some of the wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises a pair of spaced apart electrodes 21 and 22 disposed on opposite sides of a liquid bearing material 23, such as a slurry of a liquid and particles, fibers, etc., the electrodes 21 and 22 being formed of any suitable electrically conductive material and respectively having facing sides 24 and 25 for being disposed in engagement with the material 23 in any of the manners set forth in the aforementioned eight U.S. patents and Chapter 14 of the book Advances in Solid-Liquid Separation whereby the Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317 and No. 3,931,682; the Muralidhara et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,953, No. 4,747,920 and No. 4,802,964; the Thomas U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,756; the Stiles U.S. Pat. No. 3,705,847; the King U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,617 and Chapter 14 of the book Advances in Solid-Liquid Separation edited by H. S. Muralidhara are being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto not only for the teachings of the apparatus and methods thereof but also for the teachings of some of the types of liquid bearing materials that can be utilized in the apparatus and method 20 of this invention.

Also see the Diaz U.S. Pat. No. 4,861,496; the European patent application to Yamaguchi et al, No. 0,286,714 and pages 504-519 of the newly published book of Battelle Press and entitled Solid/Liquid Separation: Waste Management and Productivity Enhancement edited by H. S. Muralidhara whereby these three items are also being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto.

Thus, it can be seen that the electrodes 21 and 22 can comprise part of a stationary apparatus wherein the only movement of the electrodes 21 and 22 is that the electrode 21 can move toward the electrode 22 as the liquid in the liquid bearing material 23 is being removed therefrom in a manner hereinafter set forth or that the electrodes 21 and 22 can comprise movable endless means, such as belt means, drums or rolls or combinations thereof, for continuously dewatering the material 23 disposed therebetween together with the movable means 21 being movable toward the movable means 22 as the liquid in the liquid bearing material 23 is being removed therefrom as will be apparent hereinafter.

In any event, the lower electrode 22 has a plurality of passages 26 passing completely therethrough and normally being of a size that will permit liquid of the liquid bearing material 23 to pass therethrough without any substantial amount of the solid particles of the material 23 passing through the passages 26 in a manner well known in the art of dewatering material, such as suspensions, slurries or sludges of particles and liquids, etc.

The apparatus 20 comprises means 27 for creating an electrostatic field or electric field 28 between the electrodes 21 and 22 for acting through the material 23 to remove liquid from the material 23 by the well-known phenomena of electro-phoresis and electro-osmosis, the electrostatic field 28 being generally uniform and theoretically having a plurality of field lines 29 that are disposed in spaced parallel relation and extend at right angles between the facing surfaces 24 and 25 of the electrodes 21 and 22 as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The means 27 creates such electrostatic field 28 by at least charging one of the electrodes 21 and 22 with either a negative or a positive potential while either oppositely charging the other of the electrodes 21 and 22 or grounding such other electrode 21 or 22, the means 27 being adapted to maintain the desired amount of potential differential between the electrodes 21 and 22 from just a few volts to many kilovolts such as desired, even though there may be an electrical current flow created between the electrodes 21 and 22.

However, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the means 27 is adapted to charge the electrode 21 with one potential through a lead 30 that is disposed in electrical contact with the electrode 21 and to oppositely charge the electrode 22 through a lead 31 that is electrically interconnected to the electrode 22 as illustrated.

It is generally well known that if the electrode 21 is positively charged and the electrode 22 is negatively charged with the particles of the liquid bearing material 23 being negatively charged, the resulting electrostatic field 28 causes the particles of the liquid bearing material 23 to migrate toward the electrode 21 by the phenomena of electro-phoresis and the liquid of the liquid bearing material 23 to be forced through the passages 26 of the lower electrode 22 by the phenomena of electro-osmosis.

In order to assist in the removal of the liquid from the liquid bearing material 23 as the electrostatic field 28 is being applied through the material 23 by the electrodes 21 and 22, a pressure differential is created across the electrode 22 by a suction device 32 having its inlet 33 disposed in fluid communication with a chamber defining means 34 that is disposed in substantially sealing relation with the lower surface 35 of the electrode 22 and defines a chamber 36 therewith which is in fluid communication with the inlet 33 of the suction device 32 so that the suction device 32 tends to draw the liquid through the passages 26 in the lower electrode 22 in a manner well known for an evacuating apparatus, the suction device 32 having an outlet 37 for dispensing the removed liquid from the suction device 32 in a manner well known in the art.

In addition to such suction device 32 or in lieu thereof, the pressure differential can be provided by compressing the electrodes 21 and 22 toward each other during the dewatering operation, such as forcing the upper electrode 21 toward the lower electrode 22 by a suitable ram means (not shown but similar to the ram means 40' of FIG. 1).

The apparatus 20 of this invention includes a plurality of needle-like projections 38 formed of any suitable conductive material and being adapted to project into the material 23 between the electrodes 21 and 22, such as illustrated in FIG. 2, to assist in the dewatering or in the liquid removal of the liquid of the liquid bearing material 23 for the reasons fully set forth in the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317.

If desired, the projections 38 can each have an end 39 that is secured to a plate 40 so that as the plate 40 moves upwardly or downwardly in the drawings, the projections 38 will move in unison therewith, the plate 40 being illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 as being integral and one-piece with the projections 38 and thereby being formed of the same metallic material as the projections 38. However, it is to be understood that plate 40 could be formed of any other suitable material and could actually be formed of electrically insulating material as will be apparent hereinafter.

The upper electrode 21 is provided with a plurality of openings 41 passing completely through the outer surface 42 and the inner surface 24 thereof and respectively receive the projections 38 therein so that the projections 38 can pass through the openings 41 to be received into the space between the electrodes 21 and 22 depending upon the position of the plate 40 relative to the electrode 21.

The projections 38 are adapted to have a desired electrical potential imposed thereon by any suitable means and the means 27 previously described can be utilized for such purpose. However, a separate means can be utilized for charging the projections 38 and such separate means is generally indicated by the reference numeral 43 in the drawings and is adapted to charge the plate 40 and, thus, the projections 38 through a suitable lead 44 that is electrically interconnected to the plate 40 in any suitable manner.

The projections 38 each has a diameter that substantially fills the diameter of its respective opening 41 of the electrode 21 and has a substantially flat end surface 45 that is adapted to be disposed substantially flush with the inside surface 24 of the electrode 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1 so that not only does the liquid bearing material 23 become completely blocked from entering the openings 41 in the electrode 21, but also when the projections 38 are charged with a potential that is the same potential that the upper electrode 21 is being charged with by the means 27, the resulting electrostatic field 28 between the electrodes 21 and 22 is initially substantially uniform as illustrated in FIG. 1 by the uniformly spaced apart parallel field lines 29. However, as the projections 38 are being progressively moved into the material 23 as the plate 40 is being progressively moved toward the electrode plate 21 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, such as by suitable ram means or the like 40', FIG. 1, the end surfaces 45 of the projections 38 create substantially nonuniform electrostatic fields or electric fields 46 with the lower electrode 22 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2 while the electrode 21 is still tending to maintain the substantially uniform field 28 with the lower electrode 22 whereby the fields 28 and 46 are respectively imposed on the material 23 for a purpose hereinafter described.

While the ram means 40' is only shown in FIG. 1, it is to be understood that such ram means 40' or other moving means is operatively interconnected to the movable projections in all of the other embodiments of this invention in a like manner, such ram means being of any suitable type and being operated by any suitable force applying means as is well known in the press art or the like. For example, see the Moeglich U.S. Pat. No, 4,244,804; the Weaver U.S. Pat. No. 4,380,251, and the Weaver U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,710, for such moving means or ram means whereby these three patents are being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto.

If desired, the electrode 21, the electrode 22 and the projections 38 can be sonically or ultrasonically vibrated in any suitable manner during the dewatering operation of the apparatus 20 of this invention, such sonic or ultrasonic vibration imparting means being respectively illustrated by devices 47, 48 and 49 and being of any suitable type, such as being of the sonic and ultrasonic vibrating types set forth in the aforementioned five U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,236,317; 3,931,682; 4,561,953; 4,747,920 and 4,802,964 and two books. However, it is to be understood that only the projections 38 need be vibrated, only the upper electrode 21 needs to be vibrated, only the lower electrode 22 needs to be vibrated or any desired combination thereof needs to be vibrated as desired.

For example, the vibrator devices 47, 48 and 49 can each be of the type set forth in the Rines U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,860; the Bodine U.S. Pat. No. 3,472,295; the Shoh U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,436; the Morton et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,839, and the Beard et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,175, as it is believed that the devices thereof can be respectively disposed against the plates 21, 22 and 40 and not only cause the plates 21, 22 and 40 to vibrate therewith, but also to cause the projections 38 and the material 23 to be vibrated thereby whereby these five patents are being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto. Also, see the aforementioned Muralidhara et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,964, for such a vibrator device.

Therefore, it can be seen that the method and apparatus 20 of this invention can be formed of relatively simple parts to operate in a manner now to be described.

With the projections 38 disposed in the up position illustrated in FIG. 1 wherein the lower surfaces 45 thereof are disposed substantially flush with the lower surface 24 of the upper electrode 21, the moisture bearing material 23 is disposed between the electrodes 21 and 22 so as to be in electrical contact with the lower surface 24 of the upper electrode 21 and in electrical contact with the upper surface 25 of the lower electrode 22. The means 27 and 43 are operated in such a manner that the upper electrode 21 and projections 38 are provided with a positive charge of the same value while the lower electrode 22 is provided with an equal and opposite negative charge so that a substantially uniform electrostatic field 28 is formed between the lower electrode 22 and the upper electrode 21 and ends 45 of the projections 38 as illustrated in the drawings to act through the moisture bearing material 23 and thereby to begin the dewatering of the material 23 by causing the liquid to flow through the passages 26 by the phenomenon of electro-osmosis while the particles of the material 23 tend to migrate or move toward the upper electrode 21 by the phenomenon of electro-phoresis. Of course, if the particles of the material 23 are already in a preset condition thereof so that the same will not move toward the electrode 21, such as would be the case as if the material 23 was a closely packed sludge cake, a mat of fibrous material, etc., the liquid of the material 23, nevertheless, will tend to move toward the lower electrode 22 and pass out of the passages 26 thereof by the phenomenon of electro-osmosis and the suction being created by the suction device 32 and acting in the chamber 36 to tend to evacuate the chamber 36 will assist such electrostatic field 28 in removing the liquid from the liquid bearing material 23. In addition, by sonically or ultrasonically vibrating the material 23 between the electrodes 21 and 22 by any one or all of the means 47, 48 and 49, such vibrating action coupled with the electrostatic field action 28 will further tend to remove liquid from the material 23 as fully set forth in the aforementioned three U.S. patents to Muralidhara et al, the two U.S. patents to Candor and the book and, therefore, the theories for such liquid removal need not be further discussed. Also, to further enhance the liquid removal operation, the electrode plate 21 can be forced toward the electrode plate 22 to compress the liquid bearing material 23 therebetween.

However, at any desired time during such dewatering operation of the apparatus 20 on the material 23, the plate 40 can be moved downwardly toward the electrode 21 so as to cause the projections 38 to begin to project into the material 23 below the surface 24 of the upper electrode 21 whereby the ends 45 of the projections 38 begin to form the nonuniform electrostatic fields 46 with the lower electrode 22 and it is believed that the nonuniform fields 46 create a greater dewatering effect on the material 23 than is provided by a uniform electrostatic field.

In particular, it is believed that because the nonuniform fields 46 have the field lines 50 thereof disposed more closely adjacent each other the closer the same are to the ends 45 of the projections 38 as illustrated in FIG. 2, such more intense portions of the electrostatic fields 46 more closely pack the particles of the liquid material 23 together than if the fields 46 had been uniform adjacent the surfaces 45 of the projections 38 to thereby cause a greater dewatering from those particles being more closely compacted not only by the squeezing action between the particles of the material 23, but also by the electro-osmotic effect of the more intense positions of the nonuniform fields 46.

In addition, because some of the particles in the liquid bearing material 23 may not be charged or be chargeable, the more intense portions 50 of the nonuniform fields 46 pack such particles together by the theory of dielectrophoresis. For example, see the Jordan et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,460, which is being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto.

Thus, it is believed that as the projections 38 have their ends 45 thereof moved downwardly and further away from the lower surface 24 of the upper electrode 21, such nonuniform fields 46 act on the material 23 in the above manner with the fields 46 becoming more nonuniform as the ends 45 of the projections 38 approach the upper surface 25 of the lower electrode 22. In fact, the length of the projections 38 could be such that the projections 38 will actually eventually engage against the surface 25 of the lower electrode 22 except that under such conditions there would be a direct shorting between the projections 38 and the lower electrode 22 whereby it may be desired to stop the movement of the projections 38 into the material 23 before the ends 45 of the projections 38 cause arcing or shorting to the lower electrode 22.

Therefore, it can be seen that initially the apparatus 20 provides a uniform electrostatic or electric field 28 between the electrodes 21 and 22 and then subsequently provides a combination of the uniform field 28 and the nonuniform electrostatic or electric fields 46 in a manner believed to more greatly dewater the material 23 either at a faster rate and/or with a greater amount of liquid removal than if the projections 38 were not being utilized and only the uniform field 28 was being provided between the electrodes 21 and 22 regardless of whether or not the vibration, pressure and/or suction means are being utilized in combination therewith or not.

After the material 23 has been dewatered a desired amount by the apparatus 20, the material 23 can be readily removed therefrom by merely raising the plate 40 relative to the electrode 21 to remove the projections 38 from the space between the electrodes 21 and 22, such raising of the plate 40 causing the upper electrode 21 to strip any material that would tend to stick to the projections 38 off of the projections 38 as the same are removed to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 so that the material 23 can be removed from the apparatus 20 in any suitable manner, such as by removing the electrode 21 and plate 40 if the apparatus 20 is a batch apparatus or by having the material 23 removed out from between the electrodes 21 and 22 at the end of the belt travel thereof as in the case of the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317.

Of course, the projections 38 can be utilized for dewatering by also moving the projections 38 back upwardly from their down positions to the up position of FIG. 1 or could be moved many times upwardly and downwardly within the material 23 to cause a dewatering of the material 23. In fact, the projections 38 can begin the dewatering operation thereof when the same are fully disposed downwardly in the material 23 so that the dewatering action takes place as the projections 38 are merely being moved upwardly from their fully down position to their fully up position. Likewise, the projections 38 can begin the dewatering process in any position thereof whether the same are projected into the material a certain amount, the full amount or not into the material 23 at all as the case may be and then the projections 38 may be operated in any manner and degree of projection and rates of movement thereof during the dewatering process in order to provide for an optimum dewatering action therewith.

In addition, it may be found that it is desirable to change the value of the potential differential between the projections 38 and the lower electrode 22 during the various positions of the projections 38 relative to the electrode 22 so as to vary the intensity of the nonuniform fields 46 during the dewatering operation.

For example, the voltage between the projections 38 and the lower electrode 22 can be increased as the projections 38 project further down into the material 23. Of course, it may be found that it is desirable to decrease the voltage between the projections 38 at the lower electrode 22 the closer the projections 38 are moved toward the lower electrode 22. Also, such changing voltage can also be provided at the same time between the upper electrode 21 and the lower electrode 22 as desired. And it is also to be understood that the voltage between the electrodes 21 and 22, as well as between the projections 38 at the lower electrode 22 could be pulsed for the reasons fully set forth in the aforementioned Thomas U.S. Pat. No. 2,740,756 and the Muralidhara et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,964.

Therefore, it is to be understood that in all of the embodiments of this invention, the voltage being provided between two members thereof for acting in the liquid bearing material between those two members can be steady, varying, pulsed, or oscillated, or be any combination thereof in series, if desired.

Also, it is to be understood that the ends 45 of the projections 38 can be shaped in any suitable manner so as to enhance not only the projecting action thereof into the material 23, but also to enhance the shape of the nonuniform fields 46 being created thereby.

For example, another method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20A in FIGS. 3-5 and parts thereof similar to the parts of the method and apparatus 20 previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "A".

In regards to the method and apparatus 20A illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 and the other embodiments of this invention as illustrated in FIGS. 6-15, it is to be understood that such methods and apparatus can have the suction means 32 and chamber defining means 34 utilized therewith as well as the charging means 27 and 43 previously described as the same are merely not illustrated in FIGS. 3-20 (as well as in FIG. 2) in order to simplify the drawings and not for the purpose of indicating that such means are not being utilized therewith. In fact, the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8-15 merely illustrate one projection and it is to be understood that a plurality of like projections would be utilized therewith. However, it is to be understood that each embodiment of this invention need only have one movable projection rather than a plurality thereof, if desired. Also, the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8-15 do not provide the vibrating means 47, 48 and 49 as provided in FIGS. 1-5 and it is to be understood that such vibration means would be utilized with the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 8-15 if desired.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3-5, it can be seen that the apparatus and method 20A is substantially the same as the method and apparatus 20 previously described except that the projection means 38A respectively have substantially pointed end surface means 51 that are substantially conical and have sharp pointed apexes 52 whereby such pointed end surfaces 51 create the nonuniform electrostatic fields 46A previously described with the lower electrode means 22A but with the more intense portions 50A of the fields 46A being more intense than the intense portions 50 of the nonuniform fields 46 previously described because of the pointed arrangement 51, 52 of the projection means 38A. Thus, it is believed that a greater amount of dewatering will be created by the more intense portions 50A of the nonuniform fields 46A than by the intensive portions 50 of the nonuniform fields 46 previously described.

Therefore, since the operation of the method and apparatus 20A is substantially the same as the operation of the method and apparatus 20 previously described, a further description of the operation of the method and apparatus 20A is not necessary.

While the methods and apparatus 20 and 20A previously described each has the means 32 for creating a pressure differential across the lower electrode 22 or 22A, it is to be understood that a pressure differential could be created also across the upper electrode 21 or 21A together with or without the means 32 for creating a pressure differential across the lower electrode 22 or 22A.

For example, reference is now made to FIG. 5 wherein it can be seen that the projections 38A of the apparatus 20A have been moved upwardly so as to provide means for directing air or any desired fluid under pressure as indicated by the arrows 53, into the openings 41A in the upper electrode 21A so as to create a pressure differential across the upper electrode 21A and thereby act on the liquid bearing material 23A to tend to force liquid from the material 23A out through the lower electrode 22A as previously set forth, such upper electrode pressure differential creating means and lower electrode pressure differential creating means also being provided in the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,682.

While the needle-like projections 38 and 38A have been illustrated and described as being, in effect, in electrical contact with their respective upper electrodes 21 and 21A whereby separate means for charging the projections 38 and 38A need not be provided because merely charging the electrode plates 21 and 21A will cause the projections 38 and 38A to be charged therefrom without requiring the extra charging means 43 previously described, it is to be understood that the needle-like projections of this invention can be insulated from the upper electrode that receives the same respectively through opening means of such upper electrode so that the projections can be charged with a different potential than the potential being imposed upon the electrode carrying such projections.

For example, reference is now made to FIGS. 6 and 7 wherein another apparatus and method of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20B and parts thereof similar to the parts of the method and apparatus 20 and 20A previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "B".

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the apparatus and method 20B is substantially the same as the method and apparatus 20 previously described except that the upper electrode 21B carries electrically insulating means 54 that not only lines the opening means 41B thereof so as to prevent the projections 38B from making electrical contact with the upper electrode 21B, but also the insulating means 54 covers the upper surface 42B of the electrode 21B so that should the plate 40B for the needle-like projections 38B be charged with a charge different than the potential charge of the upper electrode 21B, a resulting field therebetween will be muted and thereby not adversely affect the operation of the apparatus 20B as hereinafter set forth.

The initial operation of the apparatus and method 20B of FIGS. 6 and 7 is substantially the same as the method and apparatus 20 of FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the upper electrode 21B and plate 40B are charged with the same potential, such as positive, while the lower electrode 22B is charged with the opposite potential, such as negative, to create the uniform field 28B therebetween for acting on the material 23B disposed between the electrodes 21B and 22B.

Thereafter, the upper plate 40B is moved toward the upper electrode 21B so as to cause the projections 38B to now have the ends 45B thereof received within the material 23B and at a certain point in the depth of projection of the projections 38B into the material 23B, the potential to the upper electrode 21B can be changed to ground or to a negative potential that is opposite to the potential of the projections 38B such as by being charged with the same potential as the lower electrode 22B so that the projections 38B not only form the nonuniform fields 46B with the lower electrode 22B for the purpose previously described but also the projections 38B create upper nonuniform fields 55 with the upper electrode 21B to operate on the material 21B between the upper electrode 21B and the ends 45B of the projections 38B in such a manner that the more intense portions 56 of the upper nonuniform fields 55 tend to move the particles of the liquid bearing material 23B with a greater intensity toward the lower ends 45B of the projections 38B than if the fields had merely been uniform

If desired, during the operation of the apparatus and method 20B, the charging of the upper electrode 21B can be changed from being charged with the same potential as the projections 38B back to being grounded or being charged with an opposite potential to the projections 38B and then again back to the same potential as the projections 38B during the time the projections 38B are being utilized intermediate the electrodes 21B and 22B to dewater the material 23B therebetween.

Other means of this invention for electrically insulating the projections from the electrode through which the projections are being moved is to insulate the projections themselves from the electrode receiving the same.

For example, reference is now being made to FIGS. 8 and 9 wherein another apparatus and method of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20C and parts thereof similar to the parts of the methods and apparatus 20-20B previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "C".

As illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, it can be seen that the projections 38C are each formed in a manner similar to a nail wherein the same has an enlarged disk-like head or end 57 and a substantially smaller diameter shaft-like portion or body 58 that is interconnected to the plate 40C, each head 57 having a diameter that is substantially the same as the diameter of its respective opening 41C that is formed through the upper electrode plate 21C as illustrated in FIG. 8. The shaft or body portion 38 of each projection 38C is covered with electrically insulating material 59 so that the projections 38C can readily move in their respective openings 41C from the position illustrated in FIG. 8 to the position illustrated in FIG. 9 while completely blocking any fluid flow through the openings 41C in the same manner as the projections 38 previously described.

In this manner, when the projections 38C are in the position illustrated in FIG. 8, it can be seen that the heads 57 of the projections 38C have their lower flat surfaces 60 disposed substantially flush with the lower flat surface 24C of the upper electrode 21C so that the upper electrode 21C can be charged with the same charge as the projections 38C to produce the uniform electrostatic field 28C previously described.

However, as the projections 38C are being moved into the material 23C in the manner illustrated in FIG. 9, by maintaining the charge on the projections 38C with the same potential as the electrode 21C, the projections 38C will form the nonuniform fields 46 with the lower electrode 22C as previously described.

However, by charging the projections 38C with the same potential as the lower electrode 22C and opposite to the upper electrode 21B, the enlarged heads 57 of the projections 38C will respectively form upper nonuniform fields 61 with the upper electrode 21C in such a manner that the more intense portions 62 of the nonuniform fields 61 will be adjacent the heads 57 of the projections 38C and tend to move the water toward the heads 57 with a greater intensity than the uniform field 28C as the projections 38C are completely insulated from the upper electrode 21C once the heads 57 have cleared the openings 41C in the electrode 21C.

Therefore, the charging of the projections 38C in the upper electrode 21C after the heads 57 of the projections 38C have been moved into the material 23C beyond the lower surface 24C of the upper electrode 21C permits any combination of charging between the projections 38C and the upper electrode 21C as desired.

While the various needle-like projections of this invention have been previously described as projecting through openings in the upper electrode of the various arrangements, it is to be understood that the projections of this invention can project through opening means in the lower electrode if desired.

For example, reference is now made to FIGS. 10 and 11 wherein another apparatus and method of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20D and parts thereof similar to the parts of the apparatus and methods 20-20C previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "D".

As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, the lower electrode 22D is provided with a plurality of openings 41D in addition to the passages 26D thereof for having the projections 38D respectively received therein so that the projections 38D can be charged with the same charge as the lower electrode 22D to form the nonuniform fields 46D with the upper electrode 21D so that the more intense portion 50D of each nonuniform field 46D is adjacent the end 45D of the respective projection 38D.

In fact, it may be found that it is best to start with the projections 38D fully projected into the material 23D at the start of the dewatering operation and subsequently pull the projections 38D down to the final position illustrated in FIG. 11. But, of course, the projections 38D could start in the position of FIG. 11 if desired or in any other position as previously described.

While the projections that project through the openings in the lower electrode of the arrangement of this invention can be insulated from such lower electrode in the same manner as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, the projections are illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 as being insulated from the lower electrode in the same manner as the upper projections in FIGS. 8 and 9.

In particular, another method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20E in FIGS. 12 and 13 and parts thereof similar to the parts of the apparatus and methods 20-20D of this invention are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference "E".

As illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13, the projections 38E have the enlarged heads 57E and have the body portions 58E thereof covered with insulation 59E so as to permit the electrodes 38E to be charged with a charge different than the charge on the lower electrode 22E, if desired.

For example, it can be seen in FIG. 13 that when the projection 38E is charged with a charge different than the charge on the lower electrode 22E and the projection 38E has the head 57E disposed within the material 23E between the electrodes 21E and 22E, a lower nonuniform electrostatic field 63 is formed between the head 57E and the lower electrode 22E with the nonuniform field 63 having its more intense portion 64 being disposed adjacent the head 57E as previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that when the head 57E of a projection 38E is closer to the upper electrode 21E as illustrated in FIG. 12, the projection 38E can be provided with a charge that is opposite to the charge of the upper electrode 21E to create the upper nonuniform field 46E in the same manner as the upper nonuniform field 46D previously described. However, as the projection 38E has its end 57E moved closer to the lower electrode 22E, the charge on the projection 38E can be changed to be opposite to the charge on the lower electrode 22E to form the lower nonuniform electrostatic field 63 as illustrated in FIG. 13.

While the various apparatus and methods of this invention previously described have the plurality of needle-like projection means either being disposed through the upper electrode or through the lower electrode, it is to be understood that the needle-like projections of this invention can have one set thereof projecting through the upper electrode and another set thereof projecting through the lower electrode, the two sets of needle-like projections either being in an aligned relation or being staggered relative to each other in any desired pattern.

For example, another apparatus and method of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20F in FIG. 14 and parts thereof similar to the parts of the apparatus and methods 20-20E previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "F".

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the apparatus and method 20F has a plurality of needle-like electrodes 38F previously described and extending through cooperating opening means 41F in the upper electrode 21F. Similarly, a plurality of electrode means 38F extend through opening means 41F in the lower electrode 22F with the lower projections 38F being formed in a manner similar to the upper projections 38F.

In addition, each projection 38F has insulating means 65 disposed on the outer end surface 60F of the enlarged head 57F thereof.

While the projection means 38F of the apparatus and method 20F of this invention have the upper set and the lower set thereof disposed in axially aligned relation, it is to be understood that the same could be staggered relative to each other so that the lower set of projections 38F could extend all the way from the bottom electrode 22F to the upper electrode 21F and the upper projections 38F could extend all the way from the upper electrode 21F to the bottom electrode 22F as desired.

However, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 14 wherein the upper and lower projections 38F are disposed in axially aligned relation, it can be seen that when the projections 38F are respectively disposed within the liquid bearing material 23F between the electrodes 21F and 22F, the upper projections 38F can be charged with a potential that is opposite to the potential on the lower projections 38F so as to form a nonuniform field 66 between the enlarged head 57F of the axially aligned projections 38F as illustrated in FIG. 14 wherein it can be seen that each nonuniform field 66 has the opposed intense portions 67 thereof respectively disposed adjacent the peripheral edges 68 of the respective enlarged heads 57F that are not covered by insulation means, such nonuniform field 66 acting on the liquid bearing material 23F between the electrodes 21F and 22F to tend to cause the liquid to move from the upper projection 38F to the lower projection 38F and the particles in the liquid bearing material 23F to move from the lower projection 38F to the upper projection 38F.

In addition, the upper projection 38F can be charged with a potential different than the potential charge on the upper electrode 21F to form the upper nonuniform field 46F for the purpose previously described. Likewise, the lower projection 38F can be charged with a potential that is different than the potential on the lower electrode 22F to form the lower nonuniform field 63F. For example, the upper electrode 21F can have a positive charge thereon while the upper projection 38F has a negative charge thereon. The lower electrode 22F can have a negative charge thereon and the lower projection 38F can have a positive charge thereon.

It is to be understood that during the operation of the apparatus and method 20F the upper and lower projections 38F can have the ends 65 thereof disposed flush with the facing surfaces 24F and 25F of the electrodes 21F and 22F so that the substantially uniform electrostatic field is created between the electrodes 21F and 22F and thereafter the projections 38F can be moved inwardly to any desired degree into the material 23F as desired. For example, the two projections 38F illustrated can actually have the insulation means 65 thereof touching each other so that the projections 38F will move in unison with the intermediate electrostatic field 66 actually beginning just below the upper electrode 21F and then be caused to move downwardly to almost the bottom electrode 22F as desired. Also, it is to be understood that the spacing between the ends 65 of the projections 38F of the upper and lower projections 38F can be varied from a close spacing therebetween to a wide space therebetween so as to cause the various fields 46F, 66 and 63F to operate in any desired manner on the material 23F.

While the method and apparatus 20F previously described has a plurality of upper projections 38F and a plurality of lower projections 38F, it is to be understood that the method and apparatus of this invention can have projections that always extend between both the upper and lower electrodes of the apparatus, if desired.

For example, another apparatus and method of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20G in FIG. 15 and parts thereof similar to the parts of the apparatus and methods 20-20F previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "G".

As illustrated in FIG. 15, a plurality of projections 38G are provided (only one such projection 38G being illustrated in FIG. 15) that respectively pass through aligned openings 41G in the upper electrode 21G and lower electrode 22G, each projection 38G comprising a body portion 58G and an enlarged disk-like intermediate portion 57G that has only its outer peripheral edge 67G exposed as the remainder of the body portion 58G on opposite sides of the head 57G is covered by the insulating material 59G as previously described.

In this manner, each projection 38G can be provided with a charge that is opposite to the charge on the upper electrode 21G so as to form the upper nonuniform field 56G therewith with such nonuniform field 56G being caused to move from the upper electrode 21G down toward the bottom electrode 22G as the intermediate portion 57G of the projection 38G is moved downwardly. Of course, as the projection 38G is moved downwardly, the projection 38G can have the charge thereon changed so as to be opposite to the charge on the lower electrode 22G and thereby cause a field similar to the field 63 of FIG. 13 to now occur between the outer peripheral surface 68G of the enlarged head 57G and the lower electrode 22G as desired.

Therefore, it can be seen that in all of the various embodiments of the apparatus and method of this invention so far described, the projections are utilized to create nonuniform fields that will act on the liquid bearing material that is disposed between the normal or conventional electrodes so as to enhance the amount of dewatering and/or cake solidification as the case may be.

It is also to be understood that during the operation of the various apparatus and methods of this invention, the charging of the various electrodes and projections can be arranged so that the same will oscillate between the charging thereof so that the resulting electrostatic fields will oscillate and thereby cause a dielectric heating of the liquid bearing material to a certain degree and then the oscillation of the fields can be terminated and the fields then being used to perform their dewatering function in the manner previously described, the heating of the liquid bearing material facilitating the dewatering thereof because of the lowering of the viscosity of the liquid through the heating thereof.

In fact, it may be found that the sonic or ultrasonic vibrating of the liquid bearing material through the nonuniform fields created by the projections of this invention will result in a dielectric heating of the liquid bearing material through just the action of the particles and liquid moving across the angled field lines created by the projections in much the same manner as fully set forth in the Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,404,765, whereby this patent is also being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto.

It is to be understood that the projections of this invention can be uniformly arranged on their respective carrying plate or could be arranged in any desired pattern thereon Also, the projections could have any desired lengths and diameters relative to each other or could be uniform relative to each other as desired.

In fact, while the projections of this invention have been described as "needle-like," it is to be understood that such term could apply to projections that are similar in size and shape to sewing needles or smaller or could apply to large knitting needles or larger as desired.

Also, it may be found that the vibration of the projections of this invention and/or the vibration of the liquid bearing material relative to the projections will not only enhance the dewatering operation as previous described, but also such vibration action may prevent the particles of the liquid bearing material from adhering to the projections and/or electrodes so as to enhance subsequent removal of the dewatered material from the apparatus of this invention.

For example, see FIG. 2A wherein it is believed that the vibration of the material 23 and/or projections 38 actually causes the cake material 23 to form in a spaced relation as indicated by the material free area 23' around the sides and ends 45 of the projections 38.

Also, while the projections of this invention have been illustrated and described as having a substantially circular transverse cross-sectional configuration, it is to be understood that the projections of this invention can have any desired transverse cross-sectional configuration and, in fact, can have a serrated, knife-like or rectangular configuration with the longitudinal axis of the projection extending parallel to the electrode carrying the same rather than transverse thereto as previously described. For example, see FIGS. 16-18 of the Candor et al, U.S. Pat. No. 3,633,282, whereby this patent is being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto.

In all of the arrangements of this invention previously described and hereinafter described, it is to be understood that the voltage between the upper and lower electrodes can be maintained substantially uniform throughout the entire dewatering operation or may vary throughout the entire dewatering operation, as well as be unidirectional pulsed or oscillated. For example, the voltage between the two main electrodes can initially be any amount, such as 50 volts, and then as more and more liquid is removed, the voltage can be increased so that by the time the dewatering operation is ended, the voltage between the two main electrodes can be several thousand volts or more as desired. This is because the current flow, if any, between the main electrodes decreases as the liquid is being removed. Likewise, such uniform or varying voltage can be provided between the projections of this invention and their cooperating main electrode or electrodes.

It may be found that when dewatering with the main pair of electrodes, the removal of the liquid of the liquid bearing material by the uniform electrostatic field eventually produces a cake therefrom that prevents further dewatering thereof because the liquid remaining in the cake no longer is in electrical contact with at least one of the main electrodes. However, it is believed that by inserting the projections of this invention into such cake, further dewatering thereof will take place not only through the previously described nonuniform field action created thereby, but also by the fact that such charged electrodes will now be placed into electrical contact with the remaining liquid in the cake to provide an electrical current path therethrough which will occur between such projections and at least one of the electrodes that provide a potential differential therebetween as it may be found that it is best to always have some electrical current flow through the liquid bearing material to produce a liquid removing action therefrom.

In contrast, it may be found that it is desirable to completely electrically insulate the projections of this invention from the liquid bearing material as well as to electrically insulate the main electrodes therefrom either by having the contacting surfaces of the main electrodes covered with electrically insulating material or having the same spaced from the liquid bearing material as fully illustrated and described in the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317.

Therefore, it can be seen that the terms "electrostatic field" and "electric field" as used in this application are synonomous and are intended to describe a uniform or nonuniform field that is steady, varying, unidirectional pulsed or oscillated and that is created through the liquid bearing material disposed between two members that have a potential differential imposed thereon in a manner to be a steady voltage, a varying voltage, a unidirection pulsed voltage or an oscillating voltage whether those members are in electrical contact with the liquid bearing material or electrically insulated therefrom. Thus, it is believed that a higher voltage between such members must be utilized to remove liquid from the liquid bearing material when no electrical current is flowing between such members and through the liquid bearing material. However, it is realized that different liquid bearing materials have different conductivities and that some liquid bearing materials have substantially no conductivity whereby the voltage utilized for dewatering a particular liquid bearing material will be different than the voltage utilized for dewatering another type of liquid bearing material and that the voltage utilized will be different if the members are electrically insulated from a particular liquid bearing material than the voltage utilized if the members are in electrical contact with that particular liquid bearing material.

While it has been previously theorized that the various nonuniform fields of this invention tend to more solidly move the particles of the liquid bearing material closer together to enhance the dewatering operation, it may be found that, in lieu thereof or in addition thereto, a more beneficial effect of the nonuniform fields of this invention is to actually cause a migration of the liquid in the resulting cake toward the projection means of this invention as it is believed that liquid in capillaries or porous material tends to physically move in the direction of increasing field inhomogeneity to the capillary or pore mouth when an inhomogeneous electrostatic or electric field or nonuniform electrostatic or electric field is directed across that capillary or porous body. For example, see the article "Effect of a Corona Discharge Field On Evaporation of Liquid From Capillaries" by Karpovich et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1981, 41, 1333. In addition, see the article "Study of Electric Field-Induced Effects On Water Vapor Adsorption In Porous Adsorbents" by Someshwar et al, Ind. Eng. Chem. Fundam., 1985, 24, 215-220; the article "Effect Of An Electric Field On The Kinetics of Water Sorption By A Capillary-Porous Matieral" by Panchenko et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1972, 22, 554, and the article "Influence of Inhomogeneous Electric and Magnetic Fields on Internal Mass Transfer In Capillary-Porous Bodies" by Panasyuk et al, J. Eng. Phys., 1978, 35, 827, whereby these four articles are being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto.

Therefore, it may be found that when utilizing the basic upper and lower electrodes 21 and 22 to provide a uniform field therebetween for initially dewatering the slurry 23 disposed therebetween by the aforementioned electro-phoretic and electro-osmotic operation, the resulting cake that forms against the underside 24 of the upper electrode 21 may be so dewatered that the upper electrode 21 no longer makes electrical contact with the remaining liquid in the material 23 disposed between the electrodes 21 and 22 even after the remaining material has been vibrated in the manner previously described.

It is believed that by moving the projections 38, FIGS. 1 and 2, of this invention into the cake 23 below the surface 24 of the upper electrode 21, not only will the projections 38 be moved through the dewatered part of the cake adjacent the surface 24 of the upper electrode 21 so as to be placed into electrical contact with the liquid in the material 21 as previously set forth, but also it may be found that the nonuniform fields being created by the projections 38 with the lower electrode 22, as represented by the reference numeral 46 in FIG. 2, each has the field lines 50 thereof radiating toward the respective projection 38 so that such radiating lines 50 actually cause a migration of the liquid in the pores of the material 23 toward the projections 38 for the reasons set forth in the previously mentioned four articles so that when the migrating liquid reaches the projections 38 then the same provides electrical continuity between the projections 38 and the lower electrode 22 to further the dewatering operation by the aforementioned electro-osmotic operation previously set forth. In order to enhance the migration of the liquid by the nonuniform fields 46 converging toward the projections 38, the vibration of the material 23 in any of the manners previously set forth may reduce the surface tension in the capillaries or pores of the material 23 so as to further enhance the movement of the liquid in the pores or capillaries toward the projections 38 for the dewatering function of this invention as well as may form cracks or fissures in the cake material 23 to enhance the migration toward the projections 38.

Therefore, the operation of the method and apparatus of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 may occur as follows.

After the electrodes 21 and 22 have been utilized to form the uniform field therebetween to initially dewater the material 23 as previously set forth, in combination with or without the vibratory action, and the cake forming against the under surface 24 of the electrode 21 has now been dewatered so sufficiently that electrical continuity is no longer provided by the liquid in the material 23 between the upper and lower electrodes 21 and 22, the projections 38 are initially moved downwardly so as to have the ends 45 thereof project below the surface 24 of the upper electrode 21 whereby it is believed that the same will now be placed in electrical contact with the liquid in the material 23 that is still below the electrode 21 so as to further dewater the material 23 between those projections 38 and the lower electrode 22. However, even at this point of the initial insertion of the projections 38, eventually the liquid adjacent the projections 38 will have been dewatered away from the same so that it is desired to have the water flow to the projections 38. This may be accomplished by the aforementioned nonuniform fields 46 acting on the cake material around the projections 38 to tend to cause migration of the liquid in the pores or capillaries of the cake toward the projections 38, and through the vibration of the cake material 23, the movement of the liquid will be enhanced toward the projections 38. However, it may be found that it is necessary to increase the voltage between the projections 38 and the lower electrode 22 at this time in order to assure the migration of the liquid by the nonuniform fields 46 toward the projections 38 as it is believed that the greater the voltage across the electrode 22 to the projections 38, the greater the strength or intensity of the nonuniform fields 46 in dewatering the material 23. Once the liquid reaches the projections 38 so as to provide electrical continuity between the projections 38 and the lower electrode 22 for the aforementioned electro-osmotic operation, then the voltage between the projections 38 and the lower electrode 22 may be decreased until it is desired to again try to migrate liquid toward the projections 38 either in the last inserted position thereof or after the same have been further progressively moved into the cake material 23 between the electrodes 21 and 22. Obviously, if vibration action is taking place when the projections 38 are being moved into the cake material 23, the vibrating action will reduce the force necessary to push the projections 38 into the cake 23.

Thus, it can be seen that the projections 38 may not only cause the particles of the cake material 23 to become more closely packed by the nonuniform fields 46 as previously described, but also the nonuniform fields 46 may then cause the liquid within the pores and capillaries of the dewatered cake to migrate toward the projections 38 through the converging field lines 50 thereof as previously set forth.

This nonuniform field effect for moving the liquid that remains in the dewatered cake toward the projections of this invention is highlighted by the arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 of applicant's drawings wherein the upper nonuniform fields 55 being created between the upper electrode 21B and the projections 38B by having the upper electrode 21B charged oppositely to the projections 38B obviously have the field lines 56 thereof converging toward the projections 38B to provide nonuniform fields converging toward the projections 38B throughout the entire length thereof below the lower surface of the upper electrode 21B so that when the liquid reaches the projections 38B by the nonuniform field effect, the liquid will flow to the ends 45B of the projections 38B to be directed toward the lower electrode 21B by the lower fields 46B creating the electro-osmotic effect therebetween as previously set forth. And it can be seen that during the entire time the projections 38B are being moved downwardly into the material 23B, the upper nonuniform fields 55 are trying to direct liquid to the entire length of the respective projections 38B.

It is believed that if the material 23B and/or projections 38B are being vibrated during such time that the projections 38B are projecting into the material 38B, the liquid being drawn to the projections 38B by the respective nonuniform fields 55 will be received in the spaces created by the vibrating projections 38B and the cake of material 23B adjacent thereto, such as the space 23' of FIG. 2A previously described, and thereby flow to the ends of the projections 38B by gravity, etc., so as to provide an electrical path from the ends of the projections 38B through the liquid in the material 23B between the ends of the projections 38B and the lower electrode 22B. In fact, it might be found that the vibrating movement of the projections 38B and/or material 23B causes the projections 38B to, in effect, respectively and rapidly move back and forth in the spaces between the cake of material 23B and actually pump the liquid drawn into such spaces toward the ends of the projections 38B.

Therefore, it can be seen in all of the embodiments of this invention that because the nonuniform fields have the more intense portions thereof converge toward the projections that cooperate in forming those nonuniform fields, such nonuniform fields can be utilized for the purpose of causing the liquid remaining in the pores and capillaries of the material being dewatered by the apparatus and method of this invention to migrate toward those projections by the nonuniform field effect being enhanced by the vibration of the material which reduces the surface tension or capillary holding effect of the capillaries on that liquid so that the liquid is more readily drawn toward the projections by the nonuniform field effect previously set forth.

In fact, it may be found that it is desired to enhance the nonuniform field effect acting across the partially dewatered cake to cause the remaining moisture therein to migrate toward the projections of this invention.

One apparatus and method of this invention for further enhancing the nonuniform field effect is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20H in FIGS. 16-18 and parts of the method and apparatus 20H of this invention that are similar to the parts of the methods and apparatus previously set forth are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "H".

As indicated in FIG. 16, the method and apparatus 20H of this invention includes the upper electrode means 21H and lower electrode means 22H with the material 23H being disposed therebetween in the manner previously set forth to be dewatered by the electrodes 21H and 22H being oppositely charged by any suitable means, such as by the electrode 21H having a positive charge imposed thereon and the lower electrode 22H having a negative charge imposed thereon.

The method and apparatus 20H of this invention includes a plurality of conductive cylindrical projections 38H being carried in spaced apart relation by a plate means 40H that is formed of electrically insulating material so that the projections 38H are completely electrically separated from each other by the plate means 40H but are electrically interconnected together by a lead means 70 to a charging means 71 which is adapted to charge the projections 38H with any desired potential, such as the positive potential illustrated.

In addition, the upper plate 40H carries a plurality of flat conductive projections or plates 72 which have opposed flat sides 73 respectively facing the projections 38H in the pattern illustrated in FIG. 18 so that it can be seen that each projection 38H has four sides 73 of four plates 72 facing the same, the upper electrode 21H having the opening means 41H formed therethrough in the same pattern and in the same configuration as the projections 38H and plates 72 so that the plates 72 and projections 38H can be moved through the openings 41H in unison by the plate 40H. The openings 41H and the upper surface 42H of the upper electrode 21H are lined with suitable electrically insulating means 54H in the same manner as the electrode 21B previously described.

The plates 72 are carried by the upper insulating plate 40H in such a manner that the same are adapted to be all electrically interconnected to a lead means 74 that is adapted to be charged by a suitable charging means 75 with any suitable charge, such as the negative charge as illustrated in FIG. 16.

While the plates 72 and projections 38H are so arranged on the insulating plate 40H so that the lower ends or surfaces 45H of the projections 38H are at the same level as the lower ends 76 of the plates 72, it is to be understood that the ends 45H of the projections 38H could be above or below the surfaces 76 of the plates 72, if desired.

In addition, it can be seen that the ends 76 of the plates 72 carry electrically insulating extensions 77 thereon so that the extensions 77 are adapted to abut against the upper surface 25H of the lower electrode 22H should the plate 40H be moved downwardly relative to the lower electrode 22H to a position wherein the extensions 77 abut the surface 25H so that it can be seen that the projections 38H in such a situation will still have the lower surfaces 45H thereof spaced above the surfaces 25H of the lower electrode 22H so as to prevent direct shorting therebetween. In addition, the extensions 77 could be of a length that spaces the bottoms 76 of the plates 72 from the surface 25H of the electrode 22H when the extensions 77 are against the surface 25H a distance that is greater than the distance that the sides 73 of the plates 72 are spaced from their cooperating projections 38H for a purpose hereinafter set forth.

While the method and apparatus 20H illustrated in FIG. 16 is not shown to have the evacuating means 32 previously described, it is to be understood that the same can have such evacuation means 32 as illustrated in FIG. 1 utilized therewith and that the plates 40H, 21H and 22H can be vibrated by the respective means 49H, 47H and 48H as previously described, if desired.

The operation of the method and apparatus 20H of this invention will now be described.

When the material 23H is initially introduced between the upper and lower electrodes 21H and 22H, the plate 40H can be in a raised condition so that the ends 45H of the projections 38H are substantially flush with the lower surface 24H of the upper electrode 21H so that only a uniform field will be created between the electrodes 21H and 22H during the initial dewatering operation on the material 23H as previously set forth.

However, after the formation of a cake against the surface 24H so that the retained liquid in such cake is no longer in electrical contact with the electrode 21H or even if the same is in electrical contact but the dewatering operation is slowed down, the plate 40H is moved downwardly so that the projections 38H and plates 72 are moved into the material 23H to a desired degree. At this time, the plates 72 and projections 38H are oppositely charged with the projections 38H having an opposite charge to the lower electrode 22H. Since the plates 72 are oppositely charged relative to the projections 38H, nonuniform fields 80 are created with the projections 38H as illustrated in FIG. 18 with each field 80 having its more intense portion 81 of its field lines 82 converging toward the projections 38H and away from the facing sides 73 of the plates 72.

In this manner, it is believed that relatively strong nonuniform electrostatic or electric fields can be created between the plates 72 and projections 38H by creating a relatively large voltage between the plates 72 and the projections 38H while a normal low voltage is maintained between the projections 38H and the lower electrodes 22H so that the liquid remaining in the cake material 23H between the projections 38H and the plates 72 will be caused to migrate toward the projections 38H and run down the projections 38H or be moved toward the ends 45H thereof and be directed toward the lower electrode 22H by the aforementioned electro-osmotic action. Of course, if a vibratory action is also being imposed at this time, the migration of the liquid toward the projections 38H as well as the dewatering operation between the projections 38H and the bottom electrode plate 22H will be enhanced as previously set forth.

Thus, as the projections 38H and plates 72 are projected further downwardly into the material 23H, a greater surface area of the plates 72 and projections 38H have the nonuniform fields acting therebetween for dewatering purposes and, of course, the vibration of the material 23H will enhance the migration of that retained liquid toward the projections 38H for the reasons previously set forth. Accordingly, it can be seen that the cake material 23H adjacent the upper electrode 21H continuously has the nonuniform fields 80 acting thereon the entire time the projections 38H and 72 are being moved toward the lower electrode 22H so that it is believed that the drier part of the cake material 23H will be subjected to the nonuniform field effect for a longer period of time than the more wet portions thereof.

Eventually, the plates 72 can have the insulating extensions 77 thereof abut against the surface 25H of the lower electrode 22H so as to prevent further insertion of the projections 38H into the material 23H. Since the length of the extensions 77 can be longer than the distance of a side 73 of a plate 72 relative to its associated projection 38H, no field effect will be created between the plates 72 and the bottom electrode 22H. However, by using a different length for the extensions 77, this could be different.

Therefore, it can be seen that the voltage between the side 73 of each plate 72 and its associated projection means 38H can be several thousand volts whereas the voltage between that projection 38H and the lower electrode 22H could be only 50 volts, if desired. Of course, it is to be understood that the voltage between the plates 72 and the projections 38H and between the projections 38H and the electrode 22H can be any desired voltage or any desired changing or pulsing voltage as desired.

While the plates 72 have been illustrated as having flat sides 73, it is to be understood that the plates 72 can have the sides 73 thereof of any desired configuration.

For example, reference is now made to FIG. 19 wherein it can be seen that the plates 72J have the sides 73J thereof defined on arcs that would describe a complete circle 83 about a particular projection 38J as illustrated.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to any shape of the plates 72 that cooperate with the projections 38H in forming the nonuniform fields 80 for the reasons previously set forth.

In regard to the lower nonuniform fields 46H being formed between the projections 38H and the lower electrode 22H, it can be seen from FIG. 17 that the field lines 84 radiate through the material 23H toward the particular projection 38H to also tend to move the retained liquid in the material 23H toward that projection 38H while the field lines that are between the end 45H of that projection 38H and the upper surface 25H of the lower electrode 22H are merely substantially vertical and, therefore, uniform between the ends 45H and a like circle area on the surface 25H of the lower electrode 22H for the electro-osmotic function previously set forth.

Therefore, it can be seen that while the various projections of this invention take up a relatively small area or volume of the total area or volume between the upper and lower electrodes, the projections reach out through the nonuniform field effect thereof so as to tend to pull from a large area or volume of the retained liquid in the liquid bearing material toward those projections when those projections are being utilized to form nonuniform fields in the various manners previously set forth.

Of course, after a dewatering operation with the apparatus and method 20H of FIG. 16, the plate 40H is moved upwardly so as to remove the projections 38H and plates 72 from between the electrodes 21H and 22H with the electrode 21H stripping any material sticking to the projections 38H and plates 72 as the projections 38H and plates 72 move up through their cooperating openings 41H of the electrode 21H as previously set forth.

It is also to be understood that the operation of the method and apparatus 20H of FIG. 16 can have the projections 38H and plates 72 start in their completely down position or in any other degree of projection into the material 23H rather than wait until after a dewatering operation by the electrodes 21H and 22H. Also, the plates 72 and projections 38H could be extended up through the bottom electrode 22H rather than through the upper electrode 21H or could project separately from opposite electrodes and directions as desired.

Also, it is to be understood that the plates 72 of this invention as previously described could be complete cylinders of electrically conductive material that completely surrounds a projection 38H in a concentric manner therewith, if desired.

Of course, it is to be understood that all of the projections 38H and 72 can be of the same size and shape so as to merely create electrostatic fields therebetween whether such fields are uniform or nonuniform as desired as an important feature of this invention is to create a field between projections that enhances the dewatering effect of at least one of those projections with the regular electrodes of the dewatering apparatus and method.

In addition, it might be found that it is best to start the dewatering operation of the method and apparatus 30H with the projections 38H and plates 72 in their completely down position relative to the lower electrode 22H so that the nonuniform fields 80 between the plates 72 and projections 38H will cause a migration of the particles of the material 23H toward the projections 38H by electrophoresis, as well as by dielectrophoresis, and liquid toward the plates 72 by electro-osmosis. The particles when reaching the projections 38H may then be drawn upwardly toward the upper electrode 21H by the normal electrophoretic action caused by the electrodes 21H and 22H and the liquid when reaching the plates 72 may then be drawn downwardly toward the lower electrode 22H by the normal electro-osmotic action caused by the electrodes 21H and 22H. Thus, after a sufficient cake of the particles of the liquid bearing material 23H has formed against the upper electrode 21H, or before, the projections 38H and plates 72 can be moved upwardly to a desired up position thereof and then be progressively moved downwardly as previously set forth to dewater the cake between the plates 72 and projections 38H in the manner previously described wherein the nonuniform fields 80 cause the remaining liquid in the cake to now move toward the projections 38H as capillaries or pores have now been formed by the particles forming the cake therebetween.

In the operation of the method and apparatus 20H previously described, it may be found that when it is desired to dewater the cake that has formed between the projections 72 and 38H after each movement of the projections 72 and 38H toward the lower electrode 22H takes place, the plates 72 should be first charged with a potential that is the same potential to which the upper electrode 21H had been charged while charging the projections 38H to the same potential to which the lower electrode 22H had been charged to tend to cause the particles of the cake 23H to move toward the plates 72 by electrophoresis for the same reasons that the particles initially tended to move toward the upper electrode 21H and to tend to cause the liquid of the cake 23H between the plates 72 and projections 38H to move toward the projections 38H not only for the same reason that the liquid initially tended to move by electro-osmosis toward the lower electrode 22H, but also because of the aforementioned nonuniform field pulling or pushing effect of the fields 80. Thereafter, the potential on the projections 38H and plates 72 can be reversed so that plates 72 have the same potential as the lower electrode 22H and the projections 38H have the same potential as the upper electrode 21H not only to tend to cause the liquid that had been drawn toward the projections 38H to now migrate toward the lower electrode 22H by electro-osmosis, but also to tend to further dewater the cake 23H between the plates 72 and projections 38H by the nonuniform field effect thereon for the reasons previously set forth. Of course, the vibratory action can be imposed during the entire time or any desired part or parts of the time that the projections 38H and 72 are being used. Also, the electrodes 21H and 22H can be charged during all, some or none of the time that the projections 72 and 38H are being used, as desired.

Referring now to FIGS. 18 and 19, it can be seen that the closer the plates 72 or 72J come to completing a square, the greater the amount of area of the nonuniform fields 80 will cover between such plates 72 and 72J and their respective projections 38H and 38J. Also, it is to be understood that additional projections 38H and 38J could be disposed between the adjacent four corners defined by the plates 72 and 72J to form nonuniform fields therewith (such as disposing a projection 38J where the reference number 83 is located in FIG. 19 or where the lower left reference number 80 is located in FIG. 18).

In this manner, substantially the entire area between the plates and projections will have a nonuniform field acting therethrough with the closeness of the plates and projections being governed by the strength of the electrode 21H in having the cooperating openings 41H being relatively close to each other.

Thus, it is believed that the projections 38H will act as a pump means to pump the liquid away from the ends or mouths of the capillaries or pores in the cake material 23H that are adjacent the projections 38H and direct the thus removed liquid toward the lower electrode 22H by electro-osmosis whereby the liquid in the capillaries or pores will continue to be moved toward the projections 38H by the nonuniform fields 80 as previously set forth to be subsequently pumped away therefrom as previously set forth.

Accordingly, it can be seen that it is believed that this invention of FIGS. 16-19 will use two field effects to enhance the dewatering operation of the upper and lower electrodes 21H and 22H, one field effect being between adjacent projections 38H and 72 and the other field effect being between the projections 38H and the lower electrode 22H. Such two field effects can take effect in unison or in series, be continuous or intermittent, etc., as desired. Also, the voltage for creating the two field effects can be the same or different as previously set forth as well as be varied, pulsed or oscillated as previously set forth.

While the nonuniformity of the fields 80 of FIGS. 16, 18 and 19 is in a radial direction relative to the projections 38H and 38J, it is to be understood that a nonuniformity of the fields 80 could also be in a vertical direction in FIG. 16 if the projections 38H are each provided with spaced annular bands or spaced circles of points that project outwardly therefrom in a radial direction, such as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11 of the aforementioned patent to King, U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,617.

Such an arrangement of this invention is illustrated in FIG. 20 wherein another method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20K and parts thereof that are similar to parts of the method and apparatus 20-20J previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "K".

As illustrated in FIG. 20 the method and apparatus 20K is substantially identical to the method and apparatus 20H of FIGS. 16 and 18 except that each projection 38K has a plurality of radially outwardly extending annular conductive bands 57K separated from each other by annular rings of insulating material 59K as in FIG. 15 so that the resulting electrostatic fields 80K created between each projection 38K and its cooperating plates 72K are in the nonuniform verticle arrangement illustrated in FIG. 20 as well as in the nonuniform horizontal arrangement as illustrated in FIG. 18.

While the various embodiments of this invention as previously set forth each has the projections of this invention being adapted to respectively project through cooperating opening means in one of the electrodes so that those projections will extend from one side thereof into the liquid bearing material to have the liquid thereof acted upon thereby, it is to be understood that each of the projections of this invention could actually be carried by its respective electrode in a manner to project from one side thereof to different positions relative to the material between the electrodes and relative to that one electrode without passing through opening means of that one electrode. For example, each projection could be hinged to that one side of that one electrode and have suitable actuator means to cause that projection to project to different positions thereof relative to the material between the electrodes and relative to that one electrode. Alternately, each electrode could be arranged to be expandable from that one side of that one electrode so as to project to different positions thereof relative to the material between the electrodes and relative to that one electrode.

In particular, reference is now made to FIGS. 21 and 22 wherein another method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20L and parts thereof that are similar to the other methods and apparatus 20A-20K of this invention are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "L".

As illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22, the method and apparatus 20L of this invention includes the upper electrode plate 21L having the side 24L thereof disposed against the liquid bearing material 23L disposed between that upper electrode 21L and the lower electrode (not shown), such as the lower electrode 22 of FIG. 1.

The upper electrode 21L has a stepped opening 90 passing through the upper surface 42L thereof and the lower surface 24L thereof in such a manner to define an annular shoulder 91 intermediate the upper surface 42L and the lower surface 24L as illustrated. The stepped opening 91 is lined with a suitable electrically insulating material, such as the material 54L as illustrated, so as to electrically insulate a conductive projection 38L from the electrode plate 21L, the projection 38L being adapted to be interconnected to a suitable electrical power source to have a charge imposed thereon by a lead means 92 in the manner previously described whereby the projection 38L is adapted to be charged with the same charge, a different charge, etc., than the electrode plate 21L for the reasons previously set forth.

The projections 38L comprises a plurality of tubular sections 93L arranged to telescope together in a manner so as to be all disposed within the larger tubular section 93L' as illustrated in FIG. 21 and thereby be disposed substantially flush with the lower surface 24L of the electrode plate 21L. However, the tubular sections 93L are adapted to be untelescoped from each other so that the smallest tubular section 93L" is adapted to project into the material 23L various distances from the surface 24L of the electrode 21L depending upon the degree of untelescoping of the sections 93L.

For example, the sections 93L are adapted to be untelescoped from each other by having a fluid pressure directed to the interior of the telescoping sections 93L by a suitable pump means 94 having an outlet 95 thereof interconnected to a conduit means 96 that leads to the interior of the sections 93L. When it is desired to untelescope the sections 93L so as to completely collapse the projections 38L into the larger section 93L' thereof as illustrated in FIG. 21, the pump 94 can be reversed so that the same creates a vacuum in the conduit 96 to thereby cause the sections 93L to retract under the oppositely directed pressure differential being created across the same. Alternately, the smallest tubular section 93L" of the projection 38L could be interconnected to the larger section 93L' by a tension spring (not shown) which would retract the tubular sections 93L within the larger section 93L' when the air pressure being directed to the interior of the stack 93L was terminated and vented by the pump 94.

In any event, it can be seen that the method and apparatus 20L of FIGS. 21 and 22 permit the projection 38L to be moved from various positions thereof so as to project beyond the surface 24L of the electrode 21L into the material 23L to different positions relative to that material between the electrodes and relative to that one electrode 21L without first passing through an opening means of that electrode 21L as in the other embodiments of this invention, the projection 38L being used in the manner previously set forth to assist in the liquid removing operation of the apparatus 20L.

Therefore, it is to be understood that one or more of the projections in each of the embodiments of this invention previously set forth could be of the type illustrated in FIGS. 21 and 22 to function in the manner previously set forth.

For example, when viewing the embodiment 20H illustrated in FIG. 16, both projections 38H and 72 thereof could be of the telescoping type 38L so as to be carried by the upper electrode 21H and not project through respective opening means thereof but merely being contained within the electrode 21H itself to be expanded from the side 24H thereof in an untelescoping manner and creating not only the electric fields with the electrodes 21H and 22, but also creating the electric fields 80 therebetween.

It is to be understood that the projections 38L has cooperating inwardly and outwardly directed annular flanges on adjacent ends of the sections 93L thereof to permit the telescoping relation thereof and to prevent the sections 93L from coming apart when the projection 38L is fully extended, such flange structure being fully illustrated in FIG. 22 and being well known in the telescoping art.

As previously stated, any of the previously described embodiments of the apparatus and method of this invention can comprise a continuous dewatering arrangement wherein the electrodes can comprise movable members having portions thereof disposed adjacent each other so as to receive the liquid bearing material therebetween, such as movable endless belt means for continuously dewatering the liquid bearing material disposed therebetween and wherein either the upper belt means and/or the lower belt means can be provided with projections that would extend therefrom into the material being disposed therebetween to enhance the dewatering thereof in any of the manners previously set forth.

For example, one such apparatus and method of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20M in FIGS. 23-26 and parts thereof similar to the apparatus and methods 20-20L previously described will be indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "M".

Referring now to FIGS. 23-26, the apparatus and method 20M of this invention has the metallic electrode 21M formed into a continuous or endless belt means that is adapted to be driven by suitable drive roller means 100 located at the opposed side edges of the belt means 21M and driving the same in its continuous looped path by any suitable interconnecting driving arrangement, such as by having the rollers 100 provided with pinion gears on the outer periphery thereof and meshing with suitable rack-like openings on the respective side edges of the belt means 21M to positively drive the belt means 21M in a continuous manner so that a lower run or portion 101 of the belt means 21M will continuously move from left to right in FIG. 23.

Similarly, the lower metallic electrode 22M is formed as a continuous or endless belt means that is trained around suitable drive roller means 102 located at the opposed side edges thereof and being disposed in driving relation with the belt means 22M so as to continuously move an upper run or portion 103 thereof in substantially a horizontal manner from left to right in FIG. 23 so as to cooperate with the lower run 101 of the upper electrode means 21M to define a chamber 104 therebetween that is adapted to receive the liquid bearing material 23M therein, the material 23M being adapted to flow between the belt runs 101 and 103 at an entrance or inlet end 105 of the apparatus 20M and be discharged at an exit or outlet end 106 of the apparatus 20M as illustrated in FIG. 23.

The apparatus 20M will perform an electro-dewatering operation on the material 23M as the same passes from left to right through the apparatus 20M so that the material 20M exiting from the outlet end 106 of the apparatus 20M is in a drier condition than the material 23M that enters the inlet end 105 thereof as will be apparent hereinafter.

Another metallic belt means 107 is provided for the apparatus 20M and the same is disposed in an endless or looped manner inside the looped belt means 21M about drive rollers 108 which are located at the opposed side edges of the belt 107 and are disposed in driving relation therewith so as to drive the belt means 107 in such a manner that the lower run 109 thereof moves in relation to the run 101 of the belt means 21M and from left to right in FIG. 23 as will be apparent hereinafter.

While the drive rollers 100, 102 and 108 are illustrated in FIG. 23 as being only at one side edge of the belts 21M, 22M and 107, it is to be understood that there will be a like set of rollers 100, 102 and 108 at the other side edge thereof.

The apparatus 20M has a plurality of transversely disposed support rollers 110 arranged in the pattern illustrated in FIG. 23 to support the lower belt means 22M in its looped travel as well as to permit the material 23M to be compressed between the runs 101 and 103 of the belts 21M and 22M in a manner known in the art. Similarly, a plurality of transversely support rollers 111 are provided for the apparatus 20M to support the looped travel of the inner belt means 107 (as well as the outer belt means 21M as will be apparent hereinafter) with the lower support rollers 111 being particularly adapted to accomplish the compressing action on the material 23M between the runs 101 and 103 of the belts 20M and 22M in a well known in the art as the drive rollers 100 and 108 as we as the support rollers 111 can be caused to move toward the lower belt means 22M to compensate for the liquid being removed from the material 23M as the material 23M moves from left to right through the apparatus 23 all in a manner well known in the art.

For example, such means is fully set forth in the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317 and the aforementioned Moeglich U.S. Pat. No. 4,244,804, as well as in the Pepping U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,400, the Fremont et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,671,874 and the Kunkle et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,680,104 whereby these last three U.S. patents are also being incorporated into this disclosure by this reference thereto.

The outer electrode belt means 21M carries a plurality of projection units of this invention that are each generally indicated by the reference numeral 112 and each unit 112 comprises a cylindrical metallic projection 38M and a tubular metallic housing means 113 with the tubular housing means 113 having a stepped end 114 disposed in a cooperating opening 115 formed through the belt means 21M so that the stepped end 114 can be secured therein, such as by welding, and have an annular shoulder 116 abutting against the surface 42M of the belt means 21M as illustrated in FIGS. 24-26 so that a surface 117 of the tubular housing 113 that fully projects through the opening 115 is disposed substantially flush with the surface 24M of the electrode 21M as illustrated in FIG. 24.

The cylindrical projection 38M of each unit 112 has its flat end surface 45M adapted to be disposed flush with the housing end surface 117 and the surface 24M of the electrode 21M when the projection 38M is held in its fully up position as illustrated in FIG. 24 by a suitable compression spring 118 having one end 119 bearing against the surface 42M of the electrode 21M and its other end 120 bearing against a surface 121 of a metallic disc-like member 122 fastened to the other end 123 of the projection 38M as illustrated.

In order to limit the amount of upper movement of the projection 38M of each unit 112 relative to its housing 113, the projection 38M can have a cross pin 124 that extends through a side slot 125 in its respective housing means 113 and having opposed ends 126 and 127 which respectively limit the upper movement of the projection 38M as illustrated in FIG. 24 by the pin 124 reaching the end 126 of the slot 125 and limiting the degree of projection of the projection 38M beyond the surface 24M of the electrode 21M in the manner illustrated in FIG. 26 by the cross pin 124 bottoming out against the end 127 of the slot 125 as illustrated. Of course, it is to be understood that the amount of projection of the projection 38M below the surface 24M of the electrode 21M could be limited by the surface 121 of the disc-like member 122 of the projection 38M bottoming out against the upper surface 128 of the respective housing means 113 before the pin 124 hits the bottom 127 of the slot 125 as the case may be.

In any event, each projection unit 112 has an upper cam surface 129 on the disc-like member 122 which will bear against the outside surface 130 of the inner belt 107 that is not secured thereto so that a differential movement between the belts 107 and 21M can be provided even though the inner belt 107 tends to control the degree of projection of the projections 38M into the material 23M as the particular projection unit 112 moves from left to right in FIG. 23 at the lower run 101 of the electrode belt 21M as will be apparent hereinafter.

The belts 21M and 22M can be oppositely charged as previously described and the projections 38M will be given the same charge as the belt 21M as the housings 113 are conductive. However, the housing 113 could be made of insulating material and the springs 118 could be insulated so that the projections 38M can be given a charge different than the charge on the belt 21M, if desired. For example, see such an arrangement in FIG. 29 which will be hereinafter described.

The belt 21M can carry the projection units 112 in any suitable pattern thereon and in any suitable spacing therebetween with the units 112 being arranged in longitudinal rows and transverse rows or in staggered longitudinal rows and staggered transverse rows as desired. For example, see FIG. 8 of the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 4,236,317, wherein projections on an electrode sheet are arranged in both transverse and longitudinal directions to provide a desired pattern thereof.

In any event, it can be seen that the apparatus 20M of this invention can be formed from relatively simple parts to operate in a manner now to be described.

As the belt means 21M and 22M, as well as the inner belt 107, are being driven by their respective drive rollers 100, 102 and 108 so that the runs 101, 103 and 109 move from left to right in FIG. 23, the material 23M being continuously fed into the chamber 104 at the inlet end 105 of the apparatus 20M is moved from left to right to be discharged at the outlet end 106 with the liquid thereof having been removed not only by the electrostatic field 28M created between the electrodes 21M and 22M in the manner previously set forth, but also by the projections 38M each moving from the inlet end 105 to the outlet end 106 and being progressively projected into the material 23M to create the nonuniform fields 46M as illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26 and as previously set forth, the support rollers 110 and 111 being so controlled in the spacing therebetween in the apparatus 20M that each projection unit 112 has its projection 38M in its fully up position as illustrated in FIG. 24 adjacent the inlet end 105 of the apparatus 20M and then being at its fully inserted position into the material 23M as illustrated in FIG. 26 at the outlet end 106 of the apparatus 20M.

In this manner, it can be seen that the spacing between the support rollers 110 and 111 at the entrance end 105 of the apparatus 20M are arranged to be approximately the distance A from each other as illustrated in FIG. 26 and by the time that particular projection unit 112 is at the position 26--26 of FIG. 23, the support rollers 110 and 111 at the position 26--26 are disposed at the distance B from each other. Likewise, the compression springs 118 of the units 112 thereby tend to provide a compressive force on the material 23M between the runs 101 and 103 as the liquid of the material 23M is being removed therefrom as is evidenced by the runs 101 and 103 at the entrance end 105 of the apparatus 20M being disposed initially at the spacing C of FIG. 26 and ending up with the spacing D at the time the particular projection unit 112 is at the position 26--26 of FIG. 23.

Therefore, it can be seen that by computer controlling the up and down movement of the right-hand end of the upper belt means 21M and 107 of the apparatus 20M, the degree of projection of the projections 38M into the material 23M as the projections 38M progress from left to right through the apparatus 23 can be controlled as well as the degree of compression of the material 23 between the belts 21M and 22M as desired.

In any event, it can be seen that the apparatus 20M will dewater the material 23M through the action of the electrostatic field created between the electrodes 21M and 22M as well as by the electrostatic fields being created by the projections 38M all for the same reasons as set forth with regard to the embodiment 20 of applicant's invention as previously set forth.

Of course, it is to be understood that during the movement of the projection units 112 from left to right in FIG. 23, the material 23M being acted upon by the particular projection unit 112 can be sonically or ultrasonically vibrated to enhance the dewatering operation as previously set forth. For example, the support rollers 111 and/or support rollers 110 could be sonically or ultrasonically vibrated to transmit the vibratory energy to the material 23M disposed between the electrode belts 21M and 22M for the reasons previously set forth in regard to the vibrating units 47, 49 and 48 of FIG. 1.

While the runs 101 and 103 of the belts 21M and 22M can be driven at the same speed, the belts 21M and 22M can have the runs 101 and 103 driven at different speeds so that not only will such differential movement cause a turbulence to the material 23M as it moves from left to right in FIG. 23, but also the projections 38M will cause a raking action on the material 23M as the material 23M is passed from left to right through the apparatus.

Also, while the runs 101 and 103 of the belts 21M and 22M are illustrated as being in direct electrical contact with the material 23M so that an electrical current can flow through the material 23, it is to be understood that one or both of the belts 21M and 22M and/or the projections 23M can be insulated from the material 23M, if desired.

Therefore, it can be seen that any of the electrode embodiments of applicant's invention that are generally indicated by the reference numerals 20-20L could be utilized to form a continuous dewatering arrangement such as illustrated in FIGS. 23-26.

For example, as previously stated, the projections 38M can be given a potential or charge different than the potential or charge of the belt 21M by forming the housings 113 of electrically insulating material and electrically insulating the springs 118 as illustrated in FIG. 29. Thus, the belt 107 can be given the desired different potential or charge and the belt 107 will then impose that different potential or charge to the projections 38M in the run 101 of the belt 21M as the heads 122 thereof are in good electrical contact with the run 109 of the belt 107 under the compressive force of the springs 118 whereby the apparatus 20M will dewater in the same manner as the apparatus 20B as previously described.

Another apparatus and method of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20N and parts thereof similar to the apparatus and methods 20-20M previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "N".

As illustrated in FIG. 27, the apparatus and method 20N is substantially the same as the apparatus and method 20M previously described except that in the apparatus 20N, the drive roll means 100N for the upper electrode means or endless belt 21N is disposed further to the right a sufficient distance from the drive roller means 108N for the inner belt means 107N so that the projections 38N will be fully retracted into their respective housing means 113N before the respective projection units 112N reach the roller means 100N so that a suitable scraper 140 can have its end 141 effectively clean the surface 24N of the electrode belt means 21N to remove any of the material 23N that remains against the same after the material 23N moves beyond the outlet means 106N as illustrated in FIG. 27. In addition, suitable rotatable cleaning brush means 142 can be disposed adjacent the belt means 21N while the same is on the drive roller means 100N to have the bristle-like portions 143 thereof readily scrape any material from the surface 24N of the electrode belt means 21N as the same moves past the rotating rollers 142. Also, a suitable nozzle means 144 can be provided to direct a cleaning fluid 145 onto the surface 24N of the electrode belt means 21N to assist in the action of the brush means 142 thereon to clean the same from any residual material 23N that might remain thereon beyond the cleaning action of the scraper 140.

Similarly, the outer surface means 25N of the lower electrode belt means 22N could be cleaned of any of the material 23N that remains on the same by a suitable scraper 146, rotating brush means 147 and liquid dispensing nozzle means 148 as illustrated in being utilized in the manner previously described.

Therefore, it can be seen that the apparatus 20N of FIG. 27 operates in the same manner as the apparatus 20M previously described whereby a further discussion of the operation of the apparatus and method 20N is deemed unnecessary except to state that it can be seen that the apparatus 20N has means for cleaning the respective surfaces 24N and 25N of the electrode belt means 21N and 22N after the material 23N has reached the outlet means 106N as illustrated as the projection units 112N have the projections 38N thereof fully retracted so that the scraper 140 and brushes 142 can act on the surface means 24N of the electrode means 21N.

While the apparatus 20M and 20N previously described have the electrode means 21M and 21N thereof respectively arranged so that the same voltage differential is provided with its cooperating electrode means 22M and 22N from the respective inlet means 105 to the respective outlet means 106 thereof, it is to be understood that the electrode belts 21M and 21N could be so constructed and arranged that the same would permit parts thereof to provide an increasing voltage differential with its adjacent portion of the lower electrode belt means 22M and 22N as that part of the upper electrode belt 21M and 21N moves from the inlet means 105 to the outlet means 106 so that the resulting intensity of the electrostatic field being created by the particular voltage gradient will be increased to provide a greater dewatering action as that part of the electrode means 21M or 21N moves toward the outlet means 106 of the apparatus than at the inlet means 105 thereof for the reasons previously set forth in connection with the apparatus and method 20 previously described.

In particular, such an apparatus and method of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20P in FIG. 28 and parts thereof similar to the apparatus and methods 20-20N previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "P".

As illustrated in FIG. 28, the apparatus and method 20P is substantially the same as the method and apparatus 20M and 20N previously set forth except that the electrode belt means 21P is formed from a plurality of conductive sections 150 that are electrically insulated from each other by suitable insulating means 151 so that the sections 150 are each adapted to move in a serial manner from the inlet means 105P to the outlet means 106P and cooperate with an adjacent portion of the lower electrode belt 22P to define its electrostatic field means 28P therewith for acting on its respective portion of the liquid bearing material 23P disposed therebetween whereby the intensity of such electrostatic field means 28P can be different than the intensity of an adjacent electrostatic field means 28P as the adjacent section 150 can have the voltage differential that is created between that section 150 and its adjacent portion of the lower electrode means 22P of a greater value than the voltage differential between the next left hand section 150 and its adjacent portion of the lower electrode 22P.

This can be accomplished by also forming the inner belt means 107P from a plurality of like conductive sections 152 being electrically insulated from each other by suitable insulating means 153 and imposing a charge thereon by a particular roller 111P having such charge imposed thereon by a charge means or wiper means 154 receiving its charge from a lead means 155 so that the particular section 152 transfers its charge value to the particular heads 122P of the particular projection means or units 112P disposed in electrical contact therewith and in electrical contact with its respective section 150 of the electrode belt 21P so that the respective section 150 is given such charge.

In this manner, a suitable computerized charging means (not shown) that is interconnected to the lead means 155 for the rollers 111P could be so programmed that the same will provide a certain voltage differential between the section 150' and the adjacent portion of the lower electrode means 22P of, say, 100 volts (even though the section 150' and the electrode belt 22P are disposed in electrical contact with the material 23P disposed therebetween for the reasons previously set forth) and then when that particular section 150' has moved to the right in FIG. 28 so as to be under the influence of the next adjacent upper roller means 111P", the next roller means 111P" will create a voltage differential with the lower electrode belt means 22P that is, say, 150 volts with each roller 111P thereafter from left to right in FIG. 28 increasing the voltage on that section 150' as the same moves further to the right so that by the time the section 150' reaches the outlet means 106P, the section 150' might create a voltage differential with the lower electrode means 22P of several hundred volts or even several thousand volts as the case may be. Similarly, the projections 38P of each section 150 likewise will have the voltage being created between the projection means 38P thereof and the electrode means 22P increased by the particular roller means 111P being effective to charge the same.

Thus, it is believed that by having the computer means sensing, with suitable sensors (not shown), the amount of dewatering that is taking place on each part of the material 23P as the same progresses from the inlet means 105P to the outlet means 106P, the computer means can control the amount of voltage gradient being applied thereto as the same progresses from the inlet means 105P to the outlet means 106P and thereby control the intensity of the electrostatic field means acting thereon as the particular section of the material 23P moves from the inlet means 105P to the outlet means 106P and such voltage gradient can be increased in uniform steps or varying steps as desired.

Likewise, while the upper rollers 111P and lower rollers 110P can be sonically and ultrasonically vibrated to impart vibration to the material 23P disposed therebetween for the reasons previously set forth, the intensity of the vibrations can vary by having the sonic or ultrasonic energy being applied to the particular rollers 111P and/or 110P varied from the inlet means 105P to the outlet means 106P in the same manner that the wipers 154 are providing a different charge intensity to the various rollers 111P for the reasons previously set forth.

Should the housings 113P of the units 112P each electrically insulate its particular projection means 38P from its respective section 150 of the electrode belt means 22P in the manner illustrated in FIG. 29, the section 150 thereof can be given a charge by a charging roller means 156 through its lead means 157 that will be different than the charge that will be given to the projection 38P thereof for all of the reasons previously set forth in having the projections electrically insulated from the electrode carrying the same so that a potential differential can be given between the projection 38P and its respective section 150 as illustrated in FIG. 29.

And while the sections 150 of the electrode means 21P have been illustrated as having at least one projection unit 112P carried thereby, it is to be understood that the electrode belt 21P could be provided without any of the projection units 112P so that the rollers 111P would directly engage against the sections 150 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 30 wherein another method and apparatus of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20Q and parts thereof similar to the method and apparatus 20P previously described are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter "Q".

As illustrated in FIG. 30, it can be seen that the upper electrode belt 21Q is formed of a plurality of sections 150Q electrically insulated from each other by the insulating means 151Q and respectively have the rollers 111Q disposed in electrical contact therewith so that the particular roller 111Q having the charge applied thereby by its wiper means 154Q through the lead means 155Q thereof will create a voltage differential between that respective section 150Q and the adjacent portion of the lower electrode belt means 22Q to have its electrostatic field 28Q act on the material 23Q disposed therebetween with a certain intensity that will be different than the intensity of the electrostatic field 28Q between another section 150Q for the reasons previously set forth in connection with the method and apparatus of FIG. 28.

Therefore, it can be seen that the apparatus and method 20P and 20Q of this invention each can vary the voltage between a particular section 150 or 150Q of its respective upper electrode belt 21P or 21Q and the lower belt means 22P or 22Q as that particular section 150 or 150Q moves from the inlet means to the outlet means of the apparatus and that varying voltage could be in steps of any desired magnitude of voltage charge or in substantially an infinitely variable manner such as by having the particular roller 111P infinitely increasing its charge from a starting value to an ending value to a particular section 150 from the time its leading edge 158 makes contact with the roller 111P to the time its trailing edge 159 is engaging that particular roller 111P with the roller 111P then dropping its charge back to its starting value when it is engaged by the leading edge 158 of the next section 150 being moved thereto.

Of course, it is to be understood that instead of increasing the voltage as a particular section 150 or 150Q moves from the inlet means to the outlet means, the same can actually have the voltage therein decreased or any combination of increasing or decreasing manner as the same could all be computer controlled with the computer itself applying the particular charge on the particular roller means 111P or 111Q as determined by many parameters being sensed by the computer or having been preprogrammed all in a manner well known in the computer art.

Also, it is believed that such computer means can be arranged to reduce the high charge value of each section 150 (or 150Q) as it leaves the outlet means 106 to a lower value that is sufficient for the charge value of the section 150 when it is returned to its beginning dewatering position at the inlet means 105, the charge taken from such section 150 at the outlet means 106 being used by the computer means to add to the charge on the sections 150 intermediate the inlet means 105 and the outlet means 106 so that no charge is wasted by the method and apparatus of this invention. Thus, the charge being provided on each section 150 as it starts at the inlet means 105 can cause a voltage differential with the cooperating portion of the electrode means 22P of any desired starting voltage, such as 50 volts, and by the time that section 150 reaches the outlet means 106 the charge being provided thereon can cause a voltage differential with the cooperating portion of the electrode means 22P of any desired ending voltage, such as 1,000 volts, such indicated values being given merely for example purpose and not to be a limitation on this invention as each different type and degree of dryness of the liquid bearing material 23P being acted upon will have different voltage requirements, as desired.

Also, it is believed that as a section 150 or 150Q of the respective belt means 21P or 21Q moves from the inlet to the outlet of the respective apparatus 20P or 20Q, the initial charge thereon can be changed to an increasing charge, a decreasing charge, a pulsing charge, or an oscillating charge and then be again changed to any of such charges as desired so that by the time that particular section 150 or 150Q reaches the outlet the charge thereon could have been changed one or more times, such as first having a steady charge, then an osciallting charge for dielectrically heating the material adjacent thereto, then to a pulsing charge, then to a higher steady charge, etc. And all of this changing of the charge on that section 150 or 150Q could be computer controlled as previously set forth.

Thus by merely grounding the lower belt means 22P or 22Q and changing the charge on the sections 150 and 150Q of the upper belt means 21P and 21Q any desired combinations of electrostatic actions for acting on the material 23P or 23Q can be provided for the apparatus 20P and 20Q.

Further, it is believed that since an electrical current tends to flow through a path that has the least resistance between two members then it may be found that in an apparatus of the type where the upper electrode portion at the inlet means of the apparatus is electrically interconnected to the upper electrode portion at the outlet of the apparatus, such as provided by the belt means 21M, more electrical current flows between the upper and lower electrode portions at the inlet means than at the outlet means because the resistance to the current flow through the liquid bearing material disposed therebetween increases as the liquid in such material is removed from the material as it moves from the inlet to the outlet. However, it is believed that by providing the sections 150 and 150Q which are each electrically insulated from the other sections 150 and 150Q, the current flow through the material at each section 150 and 150Q as it moves from the inlet means to the outlet means of the apparatus can be accurately controlled or maintained by merely increasing or changing the voltage differential between that section 150 or 150Q and the lower electrode means 22P or 22Q in the manner previously set forth.

While the apparatus and methods 20M, 20N, 20P and 20Q each comprise endless belt means, it is to be understood that at least one of the belt means thereof could comprise the outer periphery of a roll or drum, such as the roll or drum of the aforementioned Candor U.S. Pat. No. 3,931,682, and have the individual conductive sections, similar to sections 150 and 150Q of the apparatus and methods 20P and 20Q, for the purpose previously set forth whereby the endless electrode means of this invention are not to be limited to just the belt means previously illustrated and described.

Further, while the sections 150 and 150Q of the apparatus 20P and 20Q are illustrated as being in direct electrical contact with the material 23P and 23Q so that an electrical current can flow through the material 23P and 23Q, it is to be understood that the sections 150 and 150Q can be electrically insulated from the material 23P and 23Q, if desired, while the cooperating electrode means 22P and 22Q remains uninsulated and in electrical contact with the liquid bearing material 23P and 23Q or are also electrically insulated from the material 23P and 23Q, as desired.

Also, it is to be understood that the electrode means 21P and 22P, as well as the electrode means 21Q and 22Q, can be moved in the same direction but at different speeds, if desired.

While no means have been illustrated in the drawings of the apparatus 20M, 20N, 20P and 20Q for receiving the liquid that is forced through the openings in the lower belt means 22M, 22N, 22P and 22Q thereof, it is to be understood that suitable liquid collecting means can be provided within the confines of the lower looped belt means 22M, 22N, 22P and 22Q for collecting such liquid, such as is set forth in the aforementioned Muralidhara et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,964, and such liquid collecting means can apply a suction to aid in such liquid removal as previously set forth in connection with the device 34 of FIG. 1.

While the various apparatus and methods of this invention have been previously described as stating that as the projection thereof, such as projection 38, is moved closer toward the other electrode means, such as electrode 22 for the projection 38, the voltage between such projection and such electrode can be increased to enhance the dewatering electro-osmotic action as the intensity of the electrostatic field created thereby is increased, it is to be realized that as a particular projection, such as projection 38, is moved toward its cooperating electrode means, such as electrode means 22, and merely maintaining the same voltage between such projection and such electrode causes the electrostatic field created therebetween to intensify because the closer the projection comes to the cooperating electrode, the stronger the electrostatic field is therebetween even though the voltage differential remains steady therebetween.

Thus, when the main electrodes of each apparatus of this invention, such as electrodes 21 and 22, are respectively moved closer toward each other through the dewatering and/or compressing action previously set forth, the strength of the electrostatic field therebetween acting on the remaining liquid in the liquid bearing material disposed therebetween intensifies. Likewise, the projection of the projection of such upper electrode into such remaining liquid bearing material causes the field that it creates with the lower electrode to intensify the closer that projection gets to the lower electrode even if the voltage between that projection and that lower electrode remains the same. Therefore, increasing the voltage under either or both such circumstances further intensifies the created electrostatic field means for enhancing the dewatering action thereof.

While the liquid bearing material 23P or 23Q is being moved through the apparatus 20P or 20Q by the movement of the upper electrode 21P or 21Q and lower electrode 22P or 22Q, it is to be understood that the liquid bearing material 23P or 23Q can be moved by other means, such as belt means disposed between the electrode means with the electrode means either being movable therewith or being stationary as desired. Also, the liquid bearing material can be moved by a screw, such as in a screw press, while the outer cylindrical electrode means that is stationary could be in sections that are electrically insulated from each other so as to have the charges thereon different from the outer sections thereof for the reasons previously set forth in connection with the apparatus 20P and 20Q, the screw having the screw thread thereof formed of electrically insulating material while the shaft thereof is formed of electrically conductive material and is grounded or oppositely charged from the section of the cylindrical member.

It is also to be understood that while each embodiment of this invention as represented respectively by the reference numerals 20-20N, 20P and 20Q has been illustrated and described as having certain structure and operating in a certain manner, each embodiment of this invention can be modified by including or substituting one or more structural and/or operational features of any one or more of the other embodiments of this invention even though such modification has not been actually described.

It is to be understood that while the terms "dewater", etc., have been previously used throughout this description, it is intended that the "liquid" of the liquid bearing material to be removed by the various apparatus and methods of this invention can be any suitable aqueous or nonaqueous liquid or even mixtures thereof, if desired. For example, see the various types of liquid bearing material that can be utilized in the apparatus and methods of this invention and are set forth in its various references that have been previously incorporated by reference into the disclosure.

Therefore, it can be seen that this invention not only provides a new apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and the like but also this invention provides a new method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material or the like.

While the forms and methods of this invention now preferred have been illustrated and described as required by the Patent Statute, it is to be understood that other forms and method steps can be utilized and still fall within the scope of the appended claims wherein each claim sets forth what is believed to be known in each claim prior to this invention in the portion of each claim that is disposed before the terms "the improvement" and sets forth what is believed to be new in each claim according to this invention in the portion of each claim that is disposed after the terms "the improvement" whereby it is believed that each claim sets forth a novel, useful and unobvious invention within the purview of the Patent Statute. 

I claim:
 1. In an apparatus for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and comprising a pair of electrode means having portions thereof disposed adjacent each other and defining an inlet means to said adjacent portions and an outlet means from said adjacent portions, means for feeding said liquid bearing material into said inlet means, means for moving said liquid bearing material from said inlet means to said outlet means so that sections of said material serially move from said inlet means to said outlet means while being disposed between said adjacent portions, and means for creating a voltage between said pair of electrode means so as to create an electrostatic field arrangement between said adjacent portions of said pair of electrode means for acting through said material that is disposed therebetween to remove liquid from that said material, the improvement wherein said apparatus has means for providing different voltages between different parts of said pair of electrode means so that different intensities of the electrostatic field arrangement serially act through each said section of said material as each said section of material moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for providing said different voltages causes the intensities of the electrostatic field arrangement that serially act through each said section of said material to increase as each said section of material moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for providing said different voltages causes the intensities of the electrostatic field arrangement that serially act through each said section of said material to decrease as each said section of material moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each section of said material is adapted to be in electrical contact with said adjacent portions of said electrode means as that said section moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and comprising means for vibrating said liquid bearing material between said adjacent portions of said electrode means at least some of the time that said material is moving from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and comprising means for moving said electrode means so that said adjacent portions thereof serially move in the same direction thereof from said inlet means to said outlet means whereby said sections of said material serially move with said adjacent portions from said inlet means to said outlet means while being disposed between said adjacent portions, said means for creating said voltage between said electrode means comprising said means for providing said different voltages and changes the voltage between certain parts of said pair of electrode means so that the intensity of the electrostatic field arrangement that acts through each said section of said material changes as each said section of material moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 6 wherein one of said electrode means has a plurality of sections disposed in a serial manner and being electrically insulated from each other whereby each section of said one electrode means is adapted to be moved from said inlet means to said outlet means when that section is defining part of said portion of said one electrode means, said means for creating said voltage being operatively interconnected to each said section of said one electrode means during at least some of the time that said section moves from said inlet means to said outlet means so that the voltage between that section and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means is changed.
 8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for creating said voltage increases the voltage between each section of said one electrode means and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means a plurality of times as that section moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for creating said voltage changes the voltage between each section of said one electrode means and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means in substantially an infinitely varying manner.
 10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said means for creating said voltage changes the voltage between each section of said one electrode means and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means in a stepped manner.
 11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each section of said one electrode means is adapted to be in electrical contact with said material as that said section moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 and comprising means for vibrating said liquid bearing material between said adjacent portions of said electrode means at least some of the time that said material is moving from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein each section of said one electrode means has at least one projection extending therefrom so as to be disposed in said material between that said section and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means to assist in removing liquid from said liquid bearing material.
 14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13 and comprising means for projecting the projection of each section of said one electrode means to different positions thereof relative to said material between that said section and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means and relative to that said section at least some of the time that that said section moves between said inlet means and said outlet means.
 15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 14 wherein each section of said one electrode means has means that electrically insulates its said projection from that said section.
 16. In a method for removing liquid from liquid bearing material and comprising the steps of providing a pair of electrode means having portions thereof disposed adjacent each other and defining an inlet means to said adjacent portions and an outlet means from said adjacent portions, feeding said liquid bearing material into said inlet means, moving said liquid bearing material from said inlet means to said outlet means so that sections of said material serially move from said inlet means to said outlet means while being disposed between said adjacent portions, and creating a voltage between said pair of electrode means so as to create an electrostatic field arrangement between said adjacent portions of said pair of electrode means for acting through said material that is disposed therebetween to remove liquid from said material, the improvement comprising the step of providing different voltages between different parts of said pair of electrode means so that different intensities of the electrostatic field arrangement serially act through each said section of said material as each said section of material moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 17. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of providing different voltages causes the intensities of the electrostatic field arrangement that act through each said section of said material to increase as each said section of material moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of providing different voltages causes the intensities of the electrostatic field arrangement that act through each said section of said material to decrease as each said section of material moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 19. A method as set forth in claim 16 and including the step of disposing each section of said material to be in electrical contact with said adjacent portions of said electrode means as that said section moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 20. A method as set forth in claim 16 and including the step of vibrating said liquid bearing material between said adjacent portions of said electrode means at least some of the time that said material is moving from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 21. A method as set forth in claim 16 and comprising the step of moving said electrode means so that said adjacent portions thereof serially move in the same direction thereof from said inlet means to said outlet means whereby said sections of said material serially move with said adjacent portions from said inlet means to said outlet means while being disposed between said adjacent portions, the step of providing different voltages comprising the step of changing the voltage between certain parts of said pair of electrode means so that the intensity of the electrostatic field arrangement that acts through each said section of said material changes as each said section of material moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 22. A method as set forth in claim 21 and including the steps of forming one of said electrode means to have a plurality of sections disposed in a serial manner and be electrically insulated from each other whereby each section of said one electrode means is adapted to be moved from said inlet means to said outlet means when that section is defining part of said portion of said one electrode means, and changing said voltage provided by each said section of said one electrode means during at least some of the time that said section moves from said inlet means to said outlet means so that the voltage between that section and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means is changed.
 23. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein the step of changing said voltage increases the voltage between each section of said one electrode means and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means a plurality of times as that section moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 24. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein the step of changing said voltage changes the voltage between each section of said one electrode means and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means in substantially an infinitely varying manner.
 25. A method as set forth in claim 22 wherein the step of changing said voltage changes the voltage between each section of said one electrode means and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means in a stepped manner.
 26. A method as set forth in claim 22 and including the step of disposing each section of said one electrode means to be in electrical contact with said material as that said section moves from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 27. A method as set forth in claim 22 and including the step of vibrating said liquid bearing material between said adjacent portions of said electrode means at least some of the time that said material is moving from said inlet means to said outlet means.
 28. A method as set forth in claim 22 and including the step of forming each section of said one electrode means to have at least one projection extending therefrom so as to be disposed in said material between that said section and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means to assist in removing liquid from said liquid bearing material.
 29. A method as set forth in claim 28 and including the step of projection the projection of each section of said one electrode means to different positions thereof relative to said material between that said section and the adjacent portion of the other of said electrode means and relative to that said section at least some of the time that that said section moves between said inlet means and said outlet means.
 30. A method as set forth in claim 29 and including the step of forming each section of said one electrode means to have means that electrically insulates its said projection from that said section. 